During the months of September and August (2021), The Chaffee County Drug Task Force (CCDTF) conducted several undercover drug operations in the City of Salida.
The drug operations consisted of controlled purchases of illegal narcotics. The CCDTF was able to use a Confidential Informant (CI) to purchase Methamphetamine and Fentanyl from several suspects from the Salida area through controlled buys.
Arrest warrants were sought by the CCDTF and subsequently issued by the Chaffee County District Judge Patrick Murphy. The arrest warrants were issued for (S) Scott Milliken (29) of Salida, (S) John Schoenke (41) of Salida and (S) Wednesday Payne (34) of Salida. Charges on the arrest warrants are C.R.S. 18-18-405 Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance-Level 3 Drug Felony and C.R.S. 18-18-403.5 Unlawful possession of a Controlled Substance-Level 1 Drug Misdemeanor.
On 10/23/2021, Scott Milliken was taken into custody by the CCDTF without incident and was transported to the Chaffee County Detention Center. He was turned over to the jail on his arrest warrant and his bond was set at $10,000 cash only.
On 10/24/2021, John Schoenke was taken into custody by the CCDTF without incident and was transported to the Chaffee County Detention Center. He was turned over to the jail on his arrest warrant and his bond was set at $10,000.00 cash only.
The CCDTF attempted to take Wednesday Payne into custody on the arrest warrant that was issued for her from the drug investigation, but she was not located. A search warrant for the residence of Wednesday Payne was sought for by the CCDTF and was issued by the Chaffee County Court. The search warrant was served at the residence Wednesday Payne, but she was still not located. At the time of this press release Wednesday Payne has not yet been arrested on her arrest warrant from this case. The charges on her arrest warrant are Two Counts of C.R.S. 18-18-405 Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance-Level 3 Felony. Two Counts of C.R.S. 18-18-403.5 Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance-Level 4 Drug Felony. Two Counts of C.R.S. 18-18-428 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia-Drug Petty Offense. One Count of C.R.S. 18-6-401 (7) (b) (I) Child Abuse-Class 3 Misdemeanor. The bond on Wednesday Payne’s arrest warrant is set at $25,000.00 cash only. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Wednesday Payne, please contact the Salida Police Department at 719-539-6880.
The Chaffee County Drug Task force consists of members from the Salida Police Department, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Buena Vista Police Department. The Colorado State Patrol also assisted in the CCDTF operations.
The drug investigation is still ongoing and other arrests are possible.
