Remember that Henderson Center garage fire early in the morning last week? People were tweeting about it, calling into KHUM, etc.

Well, it turns out yes, that was a drug house and a grow house, but such were not the cause of the fire. From the EPD’s Problem Oriented Policing Unit:

On 10/05/11, at about 7:47 AM, detectives with the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP) served a search warrant at a residence on the 2800 block of E Street, Eureka. The warrant was in response to neighborhood complaints concerning suspected drug activity at the residence, which was reinforced by similar information the POP Unit had received from other sources.

Additionally, during the early morning hours of 9/29/11, the Eureka Fire Department (EFD) was dispatched to a structure fire at the same residence. The fire involved a detached garage located off the alley behind the residence. The fire destroyed the garage and damaged an adjacent one. Fire officials believe the cause of the fire may have been an electrical extension cord running from the main residence to the garage where there was evidence someone had been staying. During their investigation, EFD officials observed a small marijuana grow inside the main residence, which they reported to the Eureka Police Department.

During a subsequent search of the residence, investigators located small quantities of crystal methamphetamine, drug packaging materials, and drug use paraphernalia (multiple methamphetamine pipes and hypodermic syringes). Investigators also found a small indoor marijuana grow which appeared to be in compliance with Proposition 215 and the City’s Medical Cannabis Ordinance. Eureka Fire and Building Department officials also responded to inspect the residence and grow for potential hazards and code violations (none were found).

Jack Anthony Smith, 42 of Eureka, was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a place for purposes of drug use/sales.

Teresa Renee Smith (Jack’s wife, AKA: Teresa Armstrong), 42 of Eureka, was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where she was booked for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a place for purposes of drug use/sales.

Amanda Lorraine Armstrong (Teresa’s daughter), 23 of Eureka, was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where she was booked for unlawful possession of a hypodermic syringe.

Scott Joseph Fitzgerald, 40 of Eureka, was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked for unlawful possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both Armstrong and Fitzgerald have been living at the residence with the Smiths.

Jack and Teresa Smith are the primary tenants and as such they were held responsible for the illegal activity taking place at their residence. The residence has been deemed a drug house and the property owners have been noticed to abate the problem.

This is the second search warrant the POP Unit has served on the Smith’s. On 5/19/10, POP raided the home in response to complaints from concerned citizens. During a search of the home on that occasion, officers located a large indoor marijuana grow that was clearly outside the provisions of the single Proposition 215 card the residents were able to produce. A total of approximately 159 marijuana plants in various stages of growth were seized, along with approximately one pound of processed marijuana. Officers also located drug use paraphernalia including “crack” pipes and numerous (hundreds) hypodermic syringes, along with a small quantity of heroin and suspected crack cocaine. Additionally, officers located evidence of drug sales in the residence including digital gram scales, pay and owe notes, and packaging materials.

Michael David Woody, 55 of Eureka, was arrested inside the residence and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a space for purposes of drug sales, unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes, and possession of drug paraphernalia. $1,552.00 cash found on Woody’s person was also seized by officers as suspected drug sales proceeds.

Officers also found and arrested Rochell Lovell Frison, 45 of Eureka, in a small trailer behind the house. During a search of Frison’s trailer, officers found approximately 5 ounces of concentrated cannabis (hash), a small quantity of crack cocaine, and 2 digital gram scales. Frison also had over $3,000.00 cash on his person, which was seized as suspected drug sales proceeds. Frison was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sale, maintaining a space for purposes of drug sales, and possession of concentrated cannabis.

Additionally, officers cited Frison and resident Jack Anthony Smith (40 of Eureka) for related Eureka Municipal Code (EMC) violations.