The two people who were taken into custody Wednesday night after shots were fired at police during a drug-related warrant service on Savannah’s eastside have been charged with trafficking heroin. One of them has been charged with aggravated assault on police officers.
Marion “Skee” Simuel, 26, and Fatimah Polite, 21, were both arrested on felony drug charges, said Gene Harley, Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team spokesman. Simuel has been charged with aggravated assault after the investigation suggested he fired at police, Harley said.
Just after 9 p.m. Wednesday, CNT agents, Savannah-Chatham police SWAT officers and the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted search and felony arrest warrants at a residence on the 1100 block of East 58th Street as well as a storage unit on Abercorn Street.
When SWAT officers entered the home on East 58th, shots were fired at them, Harley said.
SWAT officers took Simuel and Polite into custody without returning fire.
Metro’s violent crimes detectives and forensics investigators were called to the scene, and the shooting incident is being investigated by the police department.
Agents searching the residence found large amounts of heroin, marijuana, Oxycodone, items commonly associated with the distribution of controlled substances and more than $1,200 in cash, Harley said.
When searching the storage unit on Abercorn, agents found more heroin, Harley said. A vehicle was also seized during the operation.
Simuel was treated and released for a medical complaint at a local hospital, Harley said. Simuel and Polite are being held at the Chatham County jail and are expected to be arraigned today in Recorder’s Court.
In June 2014, CNT received information Simuel was selling various controlled substances, including heroin.
Undercover CNT agents were able to purchase heroin from Simuel several times. During the course of the investigation, CNT identified Simuel’s residence on East 58th and the storage unit on Abercorn, Harley said. CNT obtained search warrants for the two locations, as well as arrest warrants for drug sales involving Simuel.
Simuel is charged with trafficking heroin, sale of a controlled substance (heroin), use of a telecommunication device and aggravated assault on police officers.
Polite is charged with trafficking heroin, conspiracy to commit a crime (sale of a controlled substance) and possession of marijuana.
Simuel’s arrest Wednesday marks his sixth booking in Chatham County, third drug arrest and his second arrest by CNT, Harley said. Simuel was on parole for a drug conviction at the time of Wednesday’s arrest.