17 Massive Reptiles, Various Narcotics Found Inside Del. Apartment Described As 'Deplorable'
By Chelsea Karnash
WILMINGTON, DEL. (CBS) -- Three people arrested on drug charges are also facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child after more than a dozen large lizards – some up to six-feet-long – were found in the basement of a home they were living in.
On Friday, March 20th around 8 a.m., officers responded to an apartment within Heritage Court Apartments in Wilmington to locate a suspect wanted for multiple court warrants and violation of probation.
Upon entering the home, police found three occupants inside. One of them was allegedly trying to destroy a large amount of suspected crack cocaine.
All three suspects were taken into custody and police say a three-year-old child was found inside the apartment.
While on the scene, officers also noticed several "homemade" cages containing Monitor lizards. Police say that due to the deplorable conditions inside the home and the sheer number of reptiles, several organizations were called in to help, including the Kent County SPCA, Del. Department of Natural Resources and representatives of the Brandywine Zoo.
A total of 16 Monitor lizards and one Columbia Red-tailed boa constrictor had to be removed from the apartment. Some of the lizards were up to six-feet-long and Zoo staff described them as "deadly and extremely dangerous, especially around children." Additionally, the lizards are not legal to own and are considered an exotic species.
Aside from the animals, police found 115 grams of suspected crack cocaine, over 99 grams of suspected marijuana, several different prescription medications and paraphernalia indicating the sales of the drugs.
Twenty-five-year-old Jennifer Chadwick, 32-year-old Antonio Graves and 28-year-old Jerimiah Feaster are all facing various drug and firearm offenses, as well as charges of endangering the welfare of a child.
The child was removed from the residence and turned over to a family member, and the apartment was condemned and deemed unfit for human habitat.
