A third person was arrested and charged last week in a case that police say involves the interception of thousands of illicit pills and a cache of heroin and methamphetamine at the Ketchikan International Airport last month.
Tony L. Teal, age 38, of Ketchikan was arrested December 30 and charged with two felony drug offenses.
Ketchikan Police Department Detective Jack Ford wrote in a sworn statement that Teal was allegedly found to be in possession of 5 suspected fentanyl pills and nearly $1,200 cash during a traffic stop. Additional search warrants were served on Teal’s residence, resulting in the seizure of $20,000 cash and an AR patterned rifle, according to police.
Police say Teal is believed to be a conspirator in a case that resulted in the arrests of 51-year old Rachel Peterson of Ketchikan and 26-year old Amy Rothlisberger of Montana at the Ketchikan Airport on December 22. The pair were charged with felonies after police say they found roughly 2,900 counterfeit pills marked “M30” suspected to consist of the powerful opioid drug fentanyl during searches of Peterson’s luggage. Peterson and Rothlisberger were also allegedly found to be in possession of large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine.
Court documents say police believe Teal arranged for the pair to bring the drugs to Ketchikan.
Contact information for Teal was allegedly found in the two women’s possessions, along with phone messages between Peterson and Teal.
Teal was transported to the Ketchikan Correctional Center where he’s held on $70,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 31st.
A public defender assigned to Teal’s case did not respond to multiple requests for comment by Thursday afternoon.
Peterson and Rothlisberger are due back in court Friday.
