Palmer woman faces drug charges

A Palmer woman arrested by Anchorage police in Eagle River Wednesday night and charged with one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance will be brought to the Mat-Su Pretrial facility to face additional felony drug charges.

Ronda M. Smith, 41, was arrested on the new drug charge in a home off the Old Glenn Highway just before midnight Thursday. She was transported to the Sixth Avenue Jail and held in lieu of $10,000 cash-only bail. Palmer Superior Court scheduled her for an arraignment as soon as she can be transported to Mat-Su.

Charges were filed Sept. 14, 2001, in Palmer against Smith involving two counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance following a one-year investigation by the Mat-Su Narcotics Unit. Smith apparently did not show up for her arraignment, so a $10,000 arrest warrant was issued, according to the Palmer District Attorney office.

In 1998, the narcotics unit received information that Victor Brophy, Smith's alleged boyfriend, was involved in drug activity and selling cocaine, according to police affidavits.

In November 2000, investigators developed a confidential informant who was asked to purchase cocaine from Brophy, 46, and Patrick Creeden, 43. Creeden lived with Brophy and Ronda Smith near River Road in Palmer, the report states.

Investigators obtained search warrants to monitor and record conversations between the informant, Brophy and Creeden from Nov. 17, 2000, to Feb. 11, 2001. They also received warrants to monitor and record conversations between the informant, Brophy, Creeden and Smith between March 5, 2001, and June 5, 2001.

On Nov. 17, 2000, the informant went to Brophy's home where he reportedly contacted all three people. The suspects agreed to sell a quarter-ounce of cocaine, but did not have any in their possession, according to police affidavit.

Smith allegedly called a place they referred to as "the compound" source in Chugiak, but couldn't locate the person. She finally was able to establish contact with someone from Chugiak and a meeting was arranged to buy cocaine, documents state.

The informant paid Brophy $350 in photocopied money provided by investigators. Brophy and Creeden then allegedly left the home to meet their source.

After Brophy and Creeden returned with the cocaine, Brophy and Creeden allegedly manufactured crack cocaine by converting the powdered cocaine in a process referred to as "rocking it up."

Creeden, Brophy and Smith then allegedly shared some of the cocaine as payment in their role obtaining it, the affidavit claims.

On March 15 and 16, 2001, the informant again purchased cocaine, and Smith acted as an intermediary, documents allege. Again, a portion of cocaine was used to manufacture crack.

Brophy was charged with two counts of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, one for acquiring and delivering the cocaine and the other for manufacturing crack. Creeden was charged with four counts of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance. Both men were arraigned last fall on the charges.

Smith was charged with two counts of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance for her alleged role in acquiring and arranging for the purchase of cocaine on the two occasions.