North Liberty police find heroin during call for service

NORTH LIBERTY - North Liberty police officers found heroin when responding to a possible theft in progress.

According to North Liberty police criminal complaints, officers responded 780 Community Drive just before 7 p.m. Monday for a report of two suspicious subjects who were possibly trying to steal items. Police arrived on the scene and spoke with the two men, identified as 40-year-old Damon M. Meyer of Ely, and 32-year-old Ryan R. Schlitter of Vinton.

Police said they spoke to the two men about what they were doing outside of the businesses, but their stories didn't match up. The men appeared to be under the influence of some kind of drug and officers also observed needle marks on their arms, police said.

When officers looked inside the men's vehicle, they saw syringes in plain view. A K-9 was called to the scene and detected the presence of drugs, police said.

Police searched the vehicle and found numerous syringes, including one with liquid still in it. A field test of the liquid determined it was heroin, police said.

Both men denied ownership of the heroin, police said.

Meyer and Schlitter were arrested and each face charges of possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.

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