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Whitewater drug suspect waives hearing

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Jimmie Minett Jr.

ELKHORN — The Whitewater man police called “the main supplier for drugs in the area” on Friday afternoon waived his preliminary hearing on heroin and cocaine charges.

Jimmie Minett Jr., 43, of 477 N. Fremont St., is charged with three counts of delivering heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and possession of narcotic drugs.

Minett sold heroin to a police informant Feb. 17, Feb. 18 and Feb. 22, according to the criminal complaint. He also gave the informant a used syringe during one of the buys, according to the complaint.

In a press release issued after Minett was taken into custody Feb. 22, Whitewater police Sgt. Tina Winger called the arrest a “major blow” to the illegal drug trade in the area.”

Police found 15 small bags of crack cocaine and a small bag of heroin that Minett had hidden in his buttocks, according to the complaint. Police also found $221 in cash, according to the complaint.

The drugs have a total street value of about $700, according to police.

“It’s significant for Whitewater because of the amount (of drugs) that was found on him … and because he’s a local resident and he was probably the main supplier for drugs in the area,” the Feb. 22 press release reads.

Police Chief Jim Coan on Friday said the case is noteworthy in a smaller city because cocaine and heroin are highly addictive drugs and growing in popularity in the area.

“We do what we can to counter the sale of illegal drugs—particularly drugs like cocaine and heroin,” he said. “These are serious drugs, highly addictive drugs … and we regard this (arrest) as a serious matter.”

Minett is in custody in the Walworth County Jail.