Illegal drugs discovered by firefighter in Brookings apartment

An apartment fire leads to a drug arrest in a different apartment in the building.

Police Detective Adam Smith says the Brookings Fire Department responded to the fire Tuesday morning at 1910 8th Street South. While conducting firefighting operations, a firefighter entered an apartment to ensure the fire hadn’t spread. The firefighter spotted a significant amount of marijuana and a firearm in plain sight.

Once the fire was out, Brookings Police conducted a search warrant at the apartment and located over half a pound of marijuana, two different prescription-controlled pills, and a handgun.

Twenty-Five-year-old Rashad Wiggins was arrested for two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a place where drugs are kept, sold, or used. Additional charges are pending for violation of a drug-free zone and a firearms violation.

April 5, 2023