TWO people have been arrested—and a third faces charges—in a multi-agency effort to crack down on the illegal sale and distribution of heroin in Nome.
The arrests were made after a year long undercover operation conducted by the Nome Police Department and Alaska State Troopers’ Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team, or WAANT.
Kevin Beamish, 22, and Yvonne Adkison, 22, were brought into custody Thursday night after Beamish allegedly sold 0.2 grams of heroin to an undercover officer with the Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team.
The officer had been in contact with Beamish since January 2014 and reports having purchased heroin — in an undercover capacity — three times from the suspect.
Troopers report that Beamish entered and exited the home of Yvonne Adkison Thursday before delivering the drugs to the undercover officer. Adkison was also arrested. Troopers say a search warrant for her home revealed roughly three grams of heroin, almost $2,000 in cash, and Alaska Airlines tickets in her name.
Adkison is a dive tender featured on the Discovery Channel reality television program Bering Sea Gold.
A separate investigation revolves around 30-year-old Kelly McDaniel, against which 11 felony charges for “misconduct involving a controlled substance” were filed Wednesday, Dec. 3. The charges allege McDaniel sold heroin and methamphetamine to an undercover officer on three separate occasions from March to July.
Nome Police report two of those sales took place within 500 feet of Nome Elementary School, a designation that amplifies the charges against McDaniel.
A warrant was issued for McDaniel’s arrest the Thursday, Dec. 4, but he has not been arrested and as of Tuesday, Dec. 9, the warrant for his arrest was canceled by the Nome court. It was unclear Tuesday what impact the cancelled warrant would have, if any, on the 11 drug charges.
Nome Police Chief John Papasodora said in an emailed statement that “all suspects were arrested without incident.”
He added that Nome Police Department K9 unit Icon was “used extensively in the case.” In all, ten grams of heroin were seized in the arrests, along with “scales, cash, paraphernalia, and vehicles,” according to police.
Court documents show that Beamish and Adkison were arraigned last week. Beamish faces eight felony drug charges and is being held on $20,000 bail. Adkison faces three felony drug charges and is being held on $30,000 bail. Both are scheduled to appear before the Nome District Judicial Court on Dec. 15.
Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared online that stated McDaniel was arrested and in custody; though initially confirmed by law enforcement officials, that information was inaccurate. The above corrected text reflects the fact that charges have been filed against McDaniel and a warrant for his arrest has been canceled as of Tuesday, Dec. 9.
