Petersburg Pilot -

In less than a week authorities arrested three individuals on drug distribution charges.

On Monday, January 18, after obtaining a search warrant, officers seized Marvin Jackson, 27, and his belongings after arriving in town on an Alaska Airlines flight.

"After a search of his belongings a black/brown substance was found wrapped with tape inside a shampoo bottle," the probable cause statement states. "A field test of the substance resulted in a positive reading for heroin."

The heroin weighed 22 grams. The police document states heroin is sold in Petersburg by the .10 grams, meaning Jackson could potentially have sold around 220 dosage units.

Multiple unused syringes were also found in a different shampoo bottle.

Jackson is facing two charges of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the second and fourth degrees.

Jackson appeared in Petersburg District Court Tuesday morning. The court set bail at $5,000 and his next court hearing is scheduled for February 8.

Meanwhile, more information was released regarding the arrests of Lawrence and Lars Christensen who are also facing drug distribution charges.

Lawrence Christensen told authorities a package containing heroin and methamphetamine was sent and belonged to him after he and his brother, Lars Christensen, were both arrested last week on charges relating to possession and intent to distribute.

According to a Petersburg Police criminal complaint, "Lawrence stated he requested one ounce of black tar and two ounces of methamphetamine. Lawrence stated that he was going to be a street level distributor. Lawrence also made the statement that with the profit 'we were going to travel around Southeast and sell lures.' Lawrence stated that his brother did not have anything to do with this."

Local officers along with authorities from the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service cooperated in the investigation. Authorities were granted a warrant on January 12 allowing them to place an alert beacon in the parcel that would activate upon its opening.

In the package sent from an address in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., officers uncovered a single ball of heroin weighing 25.51 grams and two bags of methamphetamine weighing 36.85 grams hidden within a shirt.

Officials replaced the narcotics with a "represented sample of each drug" and sprayed a substance around the area that, when handled or touched, would appear under a black light.

According to the criminal compliant, on January 13, "Officers observed Lawrence Christensen walking out of the post office with the suspected package. Officers followed Christensen to his home at 111 South Nordic. Officers watched as Christensen took the package inside. Short time later the beacon alerted that it had been opened and officers executed a search warrant on the house."

Officers found the substance on the hands of both Lawrence and Lars after illuminated by a black light.

Lars told police he didn't know what was in the package but "...knew it was probably illegal. Lars admitted to being in possession of the package," the complaint states.

It was after police arrested Lawrence and Lars and placed them in a holding cell when Lawrence told police his brother didn't have anything to do with the charges against them.

Both men appeared for a hearing Friday in Petersburg District Court where their bails were reduced to a $5,000 cash only bond.

They are facing two counts of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the second and third degrees, both felony charges with the maximum penalty of $250,000 and 20 years in jail for intent to distribute heroin and $100,000 and ten years for the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

They have another court appearance scheduled for Friday, January 22.