Staff Report

Collin Scott Hazelton

WARSAW — A South Bend man was recently arrested after dealing more than 50 grams of narcotics in an undercover drug deal.

Collin Scott Hazelton, 26, South Bend, is charged with two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug, both level 2 felonies; dealing in cocaine and possession of a narcotic drug, both level 4 felonies; possession of a narcotic drug, a level 3 felony; and possession of cocaine, a level 6 felony.

Sometime in March, the NET43 Drug Task Force made a controlled purchase of Fentanyl, a narcotic drug; and cocaine from Hazelton. An informant provided Hazelton with documented task force funds in exchange for 25.75 grams of Fentanyl and 4.5 grams of cocaine.

Also in March, the NET43 Drug Task Force made a controlled purchase of 30 grams of Fentanyl from Hazelton.

Hazelton was arrested on March 4 for possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, on a matter unrelated to the charges listed above. Hazelton was released on his own recognizance; formal charges for his March 4 arrest are pending.

According to court documents, Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It is a Schedule II controlled substance similar to morphine but about 100 times more potent. Two milligrams of Fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage. The aggregate total amount of Fentanyl dealt by Hazelton in the two transactions with NET43 was in excess of 55 grams or 55,000 milligrams.

Hazelton has previous convictions for fraud, theft, possession of marijuana, and possession of a narcotic drug, all in St. Joseph County. In one of the St. Joseph County cases, Hazelton violated probation by having positive drug tests for cocaine, marijuana and opiates.

For this case, Hazelton was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on March 9, with a $100,250 surety and cash bond.