Authorities issue arrest warrant for accused drug dealer

An Idaho man is accused of selling drugs in Lincoln County had a warrant issued for his arrest Monday in district court.

Joseph Allen Redl, 38, of Bonners Ferry, was arrested on Nov. 15, 2022, by county Sheriff’s Detective Brandon Holzer after receiving information about his alleged activities in the area. Redl was arraigned on Dec. 5 in Lincoln County District Court and pleaded not guilty to possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, use of property subject to criminal forfeiture and possession of drug paraphernalia. The first two charges are felonies.

Redl appeared in court on Feb. 27 for a hearing to determine how long a possible trial may take. But at Monday's pre-trial hearing, public defender Ben Kolter said he didn't know where Redl was.

Deputy County Attorney Jeffrey Zwang requested an arrest warrant, which visiting judge Danni Coffman granted. Coffman recently was appointed a district judge post in Flathead County.

Redl could face up to 20 years in the Montana State Prison if convicted of the distribution charge. He made bail????

According to the charging document filed by Deputy County Attorney Jeff Zwang, Holzer and fellow Detective Dan Holskey were watching traffic on U.S. 2 in Libby when a black Dodge Neon driven by Redl drove past. Holzer wrote that he knew Redl’s Idaho driver’s license was suspended. He pulled out and turned on his emergency lights. Redl pulled into a restaurant parking lot and Holskey said that the defendant was throwing stuff from the car.

When Holzer spoke with Redl, he allegedly claimed that he didn’t throw anything out of the car. After Holskey told Redl he saw him throw stuff out of the car, the accused asked why he was being stopped and arrested. Holzer said he was being detained for driving while suspended and was being investigated for distributing drugs in Lincoln County.

Holzer reported that Redl was wearing a knife and a can of pepper spray on his belt. The detective said he knew from his training and experience that drug distributors carry the items to protect their money and products from drug users.

After taking Redl to the detention center, the officers photographed items they said the man threw from the car. The reported finding a fanny pack that held 20 grams of methamphetamine, a needle and an electronic scale. They also reported finding a sunglass bag which contained baggie and a lorazepam pill in it.

According to the charging document, Redl agreed to talk to Holzer. The accused man said he had seen the officer before, but forget Holzer was a cop. Redl allegedly said he did dope and wanted to get out of his situation. He also said he didn’t mess with Mexi’s fentanyl pills, according to the charging document. Holzer also wrote that Redl was leaving town when he was stopped and he realized he was starting to attract unwanted law enforcement attention.

Redl allegedly said he wanted to talk to Holzer without being recorded. Holzer said that couldn’t be done and that he didn’t have the power to make promises or agreements.

After getting a search warrant for the car Redl was driving, Holzer reported finding cash, a coin collection, a mask for smoking dangerous drugs, a black Samsung phone and a badge from the Carson City Sheriff’s Office in Nevada as well as car titles that Boundary County law enforcement said belonged to known drug users. Holzer said officials in Carson City were looking into how and why the badge was in Redl’s possession.

During Redl’s arraignment, Zwang said the defendant had about $851 in his possession.

According to newspaper accounts in the Bonner County Daily Bee and Bonners Ferry Herald between 2016 and 2022, Redl has faced various charges, including meth possession and unlawful entry.