Warren police arrest three suspects in drug bust

WARREN — Three people arrested during the seizure of cocaine, fentanyl and guns were charged with the possession and manufacturing of narcotics during their arraignments on April 10 in the 37th District Court in Warren.

Thomas Phillip King, 34, of Clinton Township; Brian Allen Mathews, 33, of Detroit; and Lisa Doss Lawrence, 56, of Clinton Township, were under surveillance by the Warren Police Department’s Special Investigations Narcotics Unit and arrested on April 4. Officials said King had been under investigation since March. Officers reportedly observed King and Mathews in a vehicle “loitering” outside area hotels. When Warren police went to make a traffic stop, a pursuit ensued. According to police, during the pursuit, the suspects allegedly discarded narcotics from the vehicle, which police reportedly subsequently recovered, including 100 grams of cocaine and 9 grams of fentanyl. Officers stopped the pursuit after determining the identities of both occupants in the vehicle, police said in a press release.

Officers later conducted surveillance on a Clinton Township residence believed to be associated with one of the suspects and the vehicle that fled from officers. They observed a woman leave the residence with two large duffel bags and assault rifles in hand, according to police. She reportedly entered a vehicle and drove away from the scene. Warren officers then contacted the Clinton Township Police Department for assistance.

After a short pursuit, Warren police stopped the vehicle driven by the woman, later identified as Lawrence, near Eight Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway. Officers conducted a K-9 search of the vehicle and found two assault rifles, 151 grams of crack cocaine, 120 grams of methamphetamine, and 200 grams of fentanyl, according to police.

Investigators searched the Clinton Township home and found bulk quantities of ammunition, narcotics and packing materials, police reported.

The suspects entered “not guilty” pleas before Judge Michael Chupa in 37th District Court.

All three were charged with delivery or manufacturing of cocaine or heroin (50 to 449 grams), which is a felony punishable up to 20 years in prison.

King and Lawrence were both charged with delivery or manufacturing of cocaine or heroin (450 to 999 grams) and conspiracy to commit controlled substance delivery (450 to 999) grams, both of which are felonies punishable up to 30 years in prison.

In addition, King and Mathews were charged with delivery or manufacturing of methamphetamine, a 20-year felony.

Lawrence also faces a weapons charge and one count of fleeing and eluding.

King’s bond was set at $1 million cash or surety. According to police, King has a criminal history and was on federal probation. His attorney, Malita L. Barrett, declined to comment on the case.

Mathews and Lawrence’s bonds were set at $500,000 and $200,000 cash or surety, respectively. Their attorneys, David A. Pietroski, representing Mathews, and James Lawrence, who is representing Lawrence, did not respond by press time to messages left for them.

A probable cause conference was set for April 18.

King and Mathews are tentatively scheduled for preliminary examinations on April 25 and May 23, respectively.

According to court records, no examination date has been set for Lawrence.