HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — The Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET) narcotic officers’ investigations of two ongoing heroin delivery operations — which have caused a death –led to the arrest and conviction of multiple suspects in Berrien County.
Earlier this month, Reco Washington, 29, pleaded guilty to delivery of heroin causing death and was sentenced to eight months in jail. He was also found guilty of probation violation. SWET officers investigated him after receiving credible statements from the family of an overdose victim. Niles City Police initiated this investigation.
Awaiting sentencing are Kate Crandall, 27, Michael Reynolds, 27, and Sharon Reynolds, 73, all of whom pleaded guilty to delivery of heroin causing death. The Michigan State Police Major Case Unit, based in Benton Harbor and SWET-West officers began investigating a heroin overdose within the city of Benton Harbor in early 2019, ultimately arresting all three suspects.
SWET is a multijurisdictional task force that has been operating in Southwest Michigan since 1981. SWET-West is dedicated to serving the specific needs of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.
Southwest Michigan continues to experience an alarming increase in the availability of heroin, according to Michigan State Police officials, as well as a surge in other forms of opioids — both prescribed and street-level — produced trafficked into this area. The increased availability and the low cost of the products has presented a challenge for law enforcement throughout Southwest Michigan. Combating the spread of dangerous drugs and stopping the destruction of lives and families is SWET’s primary focus.
SWET is comprised MSP troopers, and deputies from the following county sheriff’s offices: Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph, as well as police officers from Covert Township, Hastings, Kalamazoo Township, South Haven, and Sturgis.
SWET is funded in part by the Michigan High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area monies, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice Byrne JAG grant, according to a statement from the Michigan State Police
