By Terrell Boettcher
Sawyer County Record
Three area residents have been charged by Lac Courte Oreilles and Sawyer County authorities with feloniously maintaining a drug trafficking place at 12874W Haskins Road, town of Hayward, on Dec. 28, 2022.
They are Kathryn Marie Isham, 55; Justin Louis Gordon, 35; and Renae Nicole Gordon, 34, all of the same address.
On Dec. 28, an LCO police investigator observed a black Ford Explorer leave the Haskins Road residence and turn south on Highway NN. Officers located the vehicle on Water Tower Lane and arrested the male driver on a warrant. They searched the vehicle and found a chalky white powder that tested positive for Fentanyl; the driver stated that he purchased it from an individual at the Haskins Road residence.
The LCO police investigator, assisted by the Sawyer County Special Response Team, LCO police and a special agent from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) then executed a search warrant at the residence and arrested the three individuals.
A male who was staying at the residence told the investigator he had used illegal drugs there and observed “a lot of people” coming to purchase illegal drugs. The investigator sated that during the past 10 years, law enforcement has responded to many drug-related calls at the residence.
A Sawyer County Jail inmate who was interviewed by the LCO police investigator stated that Renae Gordon is “moving a lot of dope currently,” that he has purchased dope from her and she gets 60 to 70 grams of heroin/fentanyl from some African-American males in Duluth.
Another inmate told an officer that Renae Gordon is the largest dealer of heroin and meth in the area and that Gordon’s nickname on the street is “The Boss.”
The inmate stated that Renae Gordon gets about 100 grams of heroin or fentanyl from a source in Duluth or Superior every two weeks. He said the drug is in a large cylinder form, similar to a children’s chalk, and that Gordon keeps it in a safe near her bed. The inmate said Gordon uses the Facebook profile “Double Up Jones.”
Since Nov. 25, 2022, LCO police and Sawyer County sheriff’s deputies have responded to 30 drug overdoses, including the suspected overdose deaths of local residents Byron K. Butler, 47, whose body was found unattended on the shoulder of Tall Pines Road Nov. 30; Shelby M. Heath, 32, Dec. 6, at 9002N Akikaandag Lane; and Brandon J. Corbine, 23, Dec. 17 at 12837W Nisway Street.
On Nov. 30, the LCO police investigator conducted a roadside interview on Tall Pines Road with a female, who stated she had picked up Byron Butler at the LCO men’s shelter and took him to the residence at 12874W Haskins Road, where he stated he wanted to meet with Renae and purchase “some sh . . .” from her. The woman said she assumes he meant meth or heroin, because Renae sells both.
A male told he investigator that a week earlier he had purchased a “point” of heroin/fentanyl for $40 from at her residence. He stated Renae had 20 or more “points” bundled up in a baggie.
On Jan. 17, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Renae Gordon. She is listed
Justin Gordon and Kathryn Isham were placed on a $500 signature bonds and are summoned to appear in court Jan. 31.