The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team – West Region has made a slew of arrests in Baraga and Houghton Counties recently. All are separate, unconnected cases. Four of the suspects are from Houghton County. Vickie Johnson, 57, of Hancock was arrested after a one month investigation for selling Hydrocodone and is facing up to seven years in jail. 28-year-old Elizabeth Nipper and Dylan Kangas, 20, of Calumet, as well as 37-year-old Joshua Lacasse of Hancock were arrested on at least one count concerning methamphetamine delivery. The maximum penalty for each charge is decades behind bars.
In Baraga County another arrest for delivery of methamphetamine was made. Brandon Smejkal, 39, from Baraga also faces a potential 20-year jail sentence. 97th District Court is handling the arraignments.