Nine Valley residents nabbed in extensive drug bust

MAT-SU -- The Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement culminated a nine-month investigation Friday by arresting 12 people on drug or weapons charges, including nine Valley residents.

Taken into custody were Carl Farwell, 25, of Wasilla; Lacey Hermon, 18, of Palmer; Eric Nelson, 25, of Palmer; Laverne "Bud" Nelson, 55, of Palmer; Ken Rawson, 42, of Big Lake; Kathryn Beals Showalter, 47, of Wasilla; Justin Showalter, 22, of Wasilla; and Darla Weaver, 42, of Big Lake.

Anchorage residents Melissa Bradley, 22; Cindi Jacques, 46; and Christian Newman, 22, also were arrested.

The Mat-Su drug team, with help from other agencies, served five search warrants and numerous arrest warrants Friday from early in the morning until the afternoon, according to Alaska State Trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson.

All suspects were lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in Palmer.

Troopers, Wasilla Police Department, Palmer Police Department, Anchorage Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. office of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Marshal and the National Guard Counter Drug Support Unit assisted in the investigation.

The Mat-Su drug team, or ABADE, is funded through the U.S. Department of Justice.