A Portage resident was taken into custody on Friday by the SWAT Team on felony drug charges, Portage Police said.

According to police, at 3:45 p.m. the SWAT Team served an arrest warrant at the residence of Todd Rickard, 56, at 5408 Central Ave., No. 5.

Rickard was wanted on two Class B felony counts of dealing in a controlled substance and one Class C felony count. A Class B felony is punishable by a term of six to 20 years; a Class C, by a term of two to eight years.

After Rickard was in custody, officers “observed in plain view numerous prescription bottles and cash lying around the apartment,” police said. “Mr. Rickard refused officers’ request to search the apartment. After a search warrant was obtained from the Prosecutor’s Office, officers found hundreds of dollars in cash, numerous prescription pills, marijuana, a pistol, and several stolen street signs.”

Additional charges against Rickard are pending, police said.

Police Chief Troy Williams “wants to let the public know that the Portage Police Department will continue to diligently fight the ‘war on drugs’ and arrest those who participate in any illegal activities in order to keep our city a safe place to live and raise our children,” police added.

Posted 5/14/2012