INDIANAPOLIS โ The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force, along with the assistance from the IMPD Interdiction Unit, arrested a 45-year-old man Monday for his alleged role in trafficking hundreds of grams of cocaine, as well as methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Late in the evening on April 1, detectives made a traffic stop in the 3200 block of North Emerson Avenue, after they saw a hand-to-hand drug transaction in a nearby parking lot. During the traffic stop, detectives found the suspect had a handgun.
After investigating further, detectives were granted a search warrant of 1313 Eatery, located at 5299 E. 38th St., near Emerson Avenue.
Detectives searched the business and found three more guns, two of which were reported stolen, as well as nearly 900 rounds of live ammunition in the furnace room of the restaurant.
According to IMPD, detectives also seized approximately 600 grams of cocaine, five pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of marijuana and 70 grams of pressed fentanyl pills that were found in the furnace room.
According to an arrest report, William Collins III told detectives that everything found in the business was his and no one else had anything to do with it.
Police arrested Collins on preliminary charges of dealing in methamphetamine, dealing in a narcotic drug and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
On Friday, prosecutors filed a formal charge against Collins for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
Ron Gee, a part-owner of 1313 Eatery and founder of Cease Fire Indy, sent the following statement to 13News:
"We deeply regret the recent incident involving one of our employees. Itโs an ongoing investigation. Our company is committed to upholding ethical standards, and we are taking this matter seriously. We apologize for any inconvenience or concern this may have caused and assure you that we are taking appropriate actions internally. Our establishment is committed to giving people second chances and we will continue to do so. Also, we ask that our community pray for (the suspect) and people like him, if thereโs any resources available to help him and those like please do so thank you."