PANT, SWAT arrest 5 in drug bust

PRESCOTT VALLEY - A bust made by the multi-agency Partners Against Narcotics Trafficking (PANT) team and the Prescott Valley Police Department SWAT team resulted in the arrest of four people in a home and a fifth who police connected to the residence, a PVPD spokesman said.

Matthew T. Smith, 18, was arrested on April 4 after a PVPD K-9 officer stopped his vehicle and found he was in possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and stolen property, Sgt. Brandon Bonney said.

Detectives linked Smith to several burglaries around Prescott Valley and Chino Valley, Bonney said, including one in which he allegedly burglarized a house while the residents slept by using their garage door opener remote, which had been left in a car, to get inside.

Investigators connected him to an address in the 8300 block of Sunset Ridge in Prescott Valley, and on April 11, PANT and PVPD served a search warrant there. Bonney said they found drugs, drug paraphernalia, and stolen property.

Smith is facing charges of possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft, and multiple felony burglary charges.

At the house, they arrested Thomas A. Munoz, 32, Angela J. Keller, 43, and Samantha R. Kopp, 29, on possession of dangerous drugs and paraphernalia charges.

Officers also arrested Kathryn M. Bellia, 40, on charges of possession of dangerous drugs, possession of paraphernalia, theft and an outstanding warrant.

All five were booked into the Camp Verde jail.