Man shot by Collier deputy claims he didn't have cocaine in his home
Saturday, September 20, 2003
By BRIGID O'MALLEY,
bmomalley@naplesnews.com The man shot by a Collier County deputy earlier this week questions why he wasn't arrested if authorities say they found drugs in his house when they served their warrant.
Edwin Mesadieu, 30, said that he didn't have cocaine in his Golden Gate home and was shot while standing naked in his bedroom door when the sheriff's SWAT team busted through his front door, his attorney, James Zonas, said Friday.
"He said they busted in the front door and he was getting his clothes on and shot him," Zonas said.
http://www.naplesnews.com/03/09/naples/e8745a.htm Authorities say Mesadieu didn't comply with deputies' orders and was shot. They won't say if a weapon was found inside the apartment.
Drug investigators say they found 5 grams of powder cocaine and 10 pieces of crack cocaine along with a scale inside his home.
"He's under strong suspicion for the drugs," said sheriff's spokeswoman Tina Osceola.
The search warrant served Thursday morning was signed Wednesday by Collier County Judge Eugene Turner and said that a confidential informant working with an undercover investigator bought $100 worth of crack cocaine at Mesadieu's home. Deputies say Laroche let the informant into the house.
When the informant returned, the undercover investigator was handed crack cocaine that had been purchased inside, the warrant says.
Tests of the evidence, including the cocaine found at the apartment, are still being done.