By Joe Bachman

NEKOOSA — Two are facing prison time after a K-9 sniffed out an illegal drug operation.

According to police reports, on Aug. 17, an anonymous tip was given to authorities that a white Chevy trailblazer was trafficking methamphetamine in the Nekoosa area out of their vehicle. Police were given the location of this vehicle on the 1000 block of Market St. in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. It was noted that the vehicle was in the parking lot well after business hours.

Soon after, the trailblazer pulled out of the parking lot at a very slow speed and continued down Market St. until pulling into a parking lot on the 100 block of North Section St. Police soon made contact with two individuals, the first of whom was identified as 22-year-old Cody Schladweiler, of Manitowoc. When asked what he was doing in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot after hours, Schladweiler stated that he was attempting to use the store’s WiFi.

However, there is no WiFi at Piggly Wiggly.

Police recognized the driver of the vehicle, identified as 19-year-old Marcelia Kroll. While authorities were speaking to the defendants, the Wood Co. Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit was brought in to do a perimeter sniff of the vehicle, which indicated positive to the presence of illegal drugs inside.

Inside the vehicle police found multiple items of drug paraphernalia, one gram of marijuana, and multiple gem bags containing a total of 4.7 grams of methamphetamine, as well as 1.5 grams of methylsulfonylmethane — otherwise known as MSM, which is often used as an imitation methamphetamine, and can be purchased at most nutrition supplement stores.

According to Schladweiler, everything in the vehicle belonged to him and not Kroll. He told police he came to the Nekoosa area to sell approximately 0.3 grams of methamphetamine for $100. Kroll allegedly told police that she gave Schladweiler a ride to conduct multiple sales.

If convicted, Schladweiler faces up to 20 years imprisonment and up to $50,000 in fines for charges of possession with intent to sell, maintaining a drug trafficking place, and falsely presenting a non-controlled substance. Kroll faces up to 15 years and six months imprisonment for possession with intent to sell, and maintaining a drug trafficking place, with up to $35,000 in fines.

Their next scheduled court date is Aug. 23.