Auburn Police Nab Drug Traffickers After They Return to Retrieve Dropped Bag

In a case of spectacularly bad timing, Auburn Police arrested three individuals on drug trafficking charges after the suspects unwittingly dropped a large bag of illegal drugs in a store parking lot and then drove back to retrieve it, just as officers were arriving.

Wednesday morning, April 28, Auburn Police responded to Lighthouse Discount Liquor at 301 Main Street, after store staff reported that a pickup truck had dropped a large bag of suspected drugs in the parking lot. A bystander had secured the bag and notified employees, who immediately called police.

While officers were en route, the same group returned to the scene in the same truck, apparently hoping to recover the lost narcotics. Officers detained all four occupants of the vehicle without incident. A search of the truck yielded additional illegal drugs, including cocaine, cocaine base (crack), and fentanyl, along with a significant amount of cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

The following individuals were charged:
• Jerome Doyle, 55
• Daniel Konopka, 38
• Christina Drinkwater, 48

The fourth occupant has not been publicly identified at this time. The Auburn Police Department said the investigation remains active and additional charges are possible.