3 arraigned in narcotics seizure in Macomb County

Three suspects were arraigned in connection with a narcotics and weapons seizure in Macomb County, Warren police said Wednesday.

Thomas Phillip King, 34, of Clinton Township; Brian Allen Mathews, 33, of Detroit; and Lisa Doss Lawrence, 56, of Clinton Township were arraigned in 37th District Court in Warren before Judge Michael Chupa. Mathews and King face charges of delivering and manufacturing cocaine/heroin and methamphetamine; Lawrence is charged with delivering and manufacturing cocaine/heroin, Warren police said in a news release. King and Lawrence also were charged with fourth-degree fleeing and eluding police.

The three pleaded not guilty.

King's bond was set at $1 million and Lawrence's at $200,000. Mathews, who has previous felony convictions for drugs and other crimes, was set at $500,000.

Warren's Special Investigation Narcotics Unit began investigating in March and believed large quantities of narcotics were being sold across the county, police said. They sought to identify vehicles or residences associated with the operation.

During the probe, investigators identified Mathews as the alleged narcotic seller. Mathews, a convicted felon, is on federal probation for drug trafficking and weapons offenses, according to the release.

Officers spotted on Thursday the suspects inside a vehicle loitering near area hotels. Police initiated a traffic stop, but the suspect fled, spurring a chase.

During the pursuit, the suspects allegedly discarded 100 grams of cocaine and 9 grams of fentanyl from the vehicle, which were recovered, police reported. Officers terminated the chase after confirming the identities of both men in the vehicle.

According to the investigation, officers surveilled a home in Clinton Township they believed was associated with the suspect and the vehicle whose driver had fled.

Investigators observed Lawrence exiting the home with two large duffle bags and assault rifles. She left in a separate vehicle, police reported.

Warren and Clinton Township police attempted a traffic stop on Lawrence, who also fled but stopped her vehicle near Eight Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway, where she was arrested.

Warren K-9 units searched her vehicle and found two assault rifles, 151 grams of crack cocaine, 120 grams of methamphetamine and 200 grams of fentanyl, according to police.

"A subsequent search of the Clinton Township residence revealed bulk quantities of ammunition along with narcotics packing materials consistent with recent narcotic transactions," the release said.

Court dates for the suspects were not set Wednesday.