Authorities have uncovered a pill press during a search warrant in Santa Rosa, a significant find in the war against drug distribution in the region. The Santa Rosa Police Department Narcotics Team initiated an investigation in July 2024, targeting a resident suspected of distributing MDMA and counterfeit pills. The individual in question has been identified as John Halverson II, a 63-year-old residing in the 100 block of Leisure Park Circle, as reported by the City of Santa Rosa.
Yesterday morning, detectives and a patrol officer executed the search warrant at Halverson’s residence. Although Halverson was not present during the raid, the officers discovered an electric pill press coated with pink powdery residue indicative of MDMA. Another powder, found in various colors, failed to yield positive results in field tests, suggesting the presence of other narcotics, such as fentanyl. Inside the same room, there was also a large plastic container equipped with a sifter and scooper, believed by detectives to be used for mixing narcotics with binding agents and other chemicals, as detailed by the City of Santa Rosa.
Investigations revealed that the pill press is capable of producing an estimated 200 pills per minute, representing a significant potential for illicit drug production. Along with the pill press, a Spectrophotometer was found on-site, an instrument reportedly used to measure the purity of narcotics. It remains unclear whether Halverson used this device before or after the pill production.
