WA man faces slew of drug charges

A Washington man is facing felony charges after police said they caught him with hundreds of fentanyl pills and other illegal substances.

Wesley A. Parker, 30, of Arlington, Wash., is charged with trafficking heroin and multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance, all felonies. He is also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use, both misdemeanors.

Ponderay police responded to Walmart on Friday morning after receiving a report of a man screaming, yelling profanity and making obscene gestures to people in passing cars. Parker allegedly told police he'd gotten into a verbal fight with his girlfriend about "losing her in the store."

At the scene, police spoke with Parker, as well as a man and woman who were with him, according to court documents. An officer said he saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside Parker’s vehicle.

When questioned, Parker reportedly handed over several pieces of paraphernalia with residue on them and told police he had thought he was in Washington, not Idaho.

A search of Parker’s vehicle allegedly yielded a scale, as well as 335 blue fentanyl pills, 10 grams of methamphetamine, 20 grams of heroin, 84 grams of marijuana and 14 Suboxone sublingual films. Suboxone is a prescription medication used to treat opioid addiction in adults.

Law enforcement said they also found a ledger with what appeared to be handwritten dollar amounts and dates, according to court documents. The woman at the scene reportedly said the ledger was for her bank account and that the $80,000 listed was from an inheritance.

Police arrested Parker and reportedly plan to request charges be filed against the woman and another man.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for April 5 in Bonner County.

The trafficking charge carries a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence and a $15,000 fine with the potential of a life sentence and up to a $100,000 fine. The fentanyl charge also carries a potential life sentence and/or a $25,000 fine, while Parker faces potential seven-year sentences for both the methamphetamine and Suboxone charges.