Early and Mizell
By Mary Alys Cherry
Two Clear Lake men – Joseph Steven Mizell, 22, and Issac Nathaniel Early, 18, were arrested and jailed on drug charges Thursday, May 7 when Harris County Precinct 8 constable deputies served a search warrant on an El Camino Real residence in connection with an ongoing narcotics investigation.
Besides the arrest of the two individuals, a large amount of cash and drugs, along with two weapons were seized.
Deputies with Constable Phil Sandlin’s Office served a narcotics search warrant about 5 p.m. at an apartment in the 16200 block of El Camino Real in Clear Lake City. The warrant was obtained after several weeks of surveillance and an investigation was conducted that led to substantial evidence of drug activity occurring from within the apartment, the constable’s office said.
Deputies were able to determine that the location was being used to deal various types of illegal substances including marijuana, cocaine, hashish, as well as what is known as THC “candy” — activity that led deputies to designate the location as a “known hot spot” for narcotics, Chief Deputy Jason Finnen said.
Through further investigation, deputies determined that the apartment occupants were dealing heavily to buyers, including high school age individuals from the Clear Lake area, Finnen said. “This includes the selling of what is known on the street as “wax,” a concentrated form of marijuana that is much more potent than the marijuana buds that are typically smoked,” he explained.
“While THC levels in marijuana buds are normally somewhere between 3 and 12 percent, wax can have THC levels as high as 90 percent,” he said. “Users often use an e-cigarette device to smoke wax, as it is perceived to be a less detectable method of inhaling the illegal substance.”
Mizell was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG II, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Controlled Substance PG I and booked into the Harris County Jail where his bond was set at $14,000.
While on the scene, three other individuals who pulled into the complex were recognized by deputies as being occupants of the same apartment. They were subsequently detained and questioned regarding the large amount of illegal substances located within the apartment.
In addition, a Precinct 8 K9 unit alerted deputies to the right side passenger door of the vehicle the three arrived in. Inside the door, deputies recovered .5 grams of powder cocaine. The front seat passenger, identified as Early, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG I. He was booked into the Harris County Jail where his bond was set at $2,000.
At the completion of the execution of this search warrant, the following items were seized:
- 2.5 grams of cocaine
- 1.7 pounds of marijuana
- 64 grams of THC “candy”
- 3 grams of hashish
- 61 grams of hashish “wax”
In addition, various forms of narcotics paraphernalia, packaging and manufacturing materials were seized along with $12,930 in cash that deputies believe to be the result of the sale of illegal drugs, Finnen said, adding that two firearms were also recovered from the location.
“This investigation is still ongoing at this time and additional charges may be brought against other individuals as the case progresses,” he explained.
