Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska Department of Public Safety searched a home on Biorka Drive on Thursday evening and arrested two individuals for possession of controlled substances.

According to court documents, Public Safety developed information about the illegal sale and use of Oxycontin from the residence on John Bruce Jr. and obtained a search warrant for the house, his room, and the occupants of the house. Upon arrival, the officers detained the occupants, including Bruce, his brother Ryan Bruce, and Kiefer Fredricks. Bruce admitted that he had pills of oxycontin in the bathroom. The police found 24 pills that were identified as that drug and in the search they also seized $2,200, two electronic weighing scales, and two pill cutting devices

While searching the house Officer Steve Kelly spoke with Fredricks, who said he was not involved with selling the drugs. However, he does receive money from Bruce that he takes to the post office to turn into money orders. In the past two weeks he's turned $16,000 into money orders for Bruce. Fredricks said he thought the money was from selling Oxycontin.

Upon being arrested and being told he would be taken to jail, Bruce said he needed his pills because of his addiction. In his bedroom he had ten and a half pills of Suboxone which contains an opioid, another controlled substance.

While at the house, the police also answered a phone call from Forest Hellard. Hellard assumed he was speaking to Ryan Bruce and said he had something for him. Officer Kelly did not identify himself but told Hellard to come to the house. Hellard arrived and when Kelly searched him he found two plastic baggies marijuana.

Bruce, 25, was charged with one class A felony for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to sell it and one class A misdemeanor for possessing a controlled substance. His bail was set for $4,000 in cash and $8,000 unsecured. Hellard, 36, was charged with a class B misdemeanor with a bail of $500 cash and $500 unsecured.
Later, Bruce was also charged with an unclassified felony for giving oxycodone to a minor who is more than three years younger than him. Officers took blood samples from the minor, who admitting to smoking oxy with Bruce and was suffering from withdrawal symptoms from the drug. An unclassified felony is the highest charge one can receive.
Bruce will be posting bail and traveling to Anchorage to receive treatment for his addictions.
Public Safety Director Jaime Sunderland says other charges might still stem from this investigation. He says if you have information about drug related activities in the community, you can call the tip line at 581-6422.