UPDATED: Drugs Seized in Otter House Raid

Updated: 2:49 p.m. Fredericksburg detectives did not appear to find much drugs in a raid of Otter House and an adjacent apartment, according to a search warrant filed in Circuit Court today.

Detectives raided the business and an apartment at closing. According to the search warrant for Otter House, which lacks the affidavit, detectives found two pills in a green plastic bag, a smoking device in an office and another smoking device in an outside alley way in a broken down small fridge and green plant-like material in the alley. They also seized a DVR that records what's going on inside the business.

"When they came in I was shocked at first," said Otter House co-owner Paul Stoddard, adding that he told detectives to go ahead and search everything. "We have nothing to hide and I don't even know where those things came from."

Stoddard said he has contacted an attorney. He said the alley way is open and he often sees people hanging out there, and the adjacent apartment has a stairwell with access to the alley way. Stoddard said he was told that only "flakes" of marijuana were found in the outside alley.

"I catch kids back ther all the time," he said.

At the apartment at 1009 Princess Anne St. Apt. 1, detectives seized a black journal, at least one digital scale, jewelers' bags and a white pill in a ziplock baggy, according to the warrant.

The affidavit would have detailed a narrative written by the detective, but it was not filed with the warrants today in Circuit Court. The affidavit could provide more information on what may have been found and scene during the raid.

Fredericksburg Patch will update this story when more information is available.

--------

Updated 12:07 p.m.: Otter House co-owner Paul Stoddard said he is cooperating with police and that he will terminate any employees who might be charged as a result of this morning's raid.

"We don’t want to have a bad relationship with the police and we don’t want them to think we’re doing something bad," he said. "We are doing everything we can to help them."

Fredericksburg Police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said this morning that charges are expected to be filed against one or more employees of the business as the investigation continues.

Stoddard said he was in the business during the raid and he thought only one painkiller was found on the floor of the business. He said detectives searched all of his belongings, and the entire business. He said he did not know where the detectives found marijuana.

"If it is any of our employees they are obviously going to be terminated," he said.

Stoddard said he has made changes to help improve the establishment's image and he has even been staying past closing hours to make sure there aren't any problems.

"I don’t know what is going to come of it," he said. "We are obviously upset. It was quite a scene. We are trying our best. I guess a couple bad apples ruin the bunch."

-----------

Police raided The in downtown Fredericksburg overnight and seized drugs from the premises, said Fredericksburg Police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe.

Detectives executed the search warrant right at closing at 2 a.m. and discovered marijuana and the prescription painkiller Oxycodone from inside the business at 1005 Princess Anne St., said Bledsoe. The Otter House features a restaurant on the main level and a full bar and music venue on the upper level.

"Four patrons were present during the search, as well as band members and employees," she said. "The patrons and band members were detained briefly and released without charges. Charges are expected to be filed against one or more employees of the business as the investigation continues."

Detectives also executed a search warrant of a second-floor apartment next door to Otter House, where Bledsoe said they found drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance she did not describe.

"Charges are expected to be filed against the occupants of the apartment as the investigation continues," she said.

Three additional individuals were detained in the vicinity while the searches were being conducted. Shelby Pinlac Barker, 19, of Stafford was arrested for possession of schedule II narcotics and Jamaal Hines, 20, of Fredericksburg was arrested for possession of marijuana. The third subject was released without charges. An arrest does not mean a conviction.

Otter House, which is one of the city's premier spots for live music in the upstairs club, has had a few problems with violence this year in the evenings.

.

More than eight police cruisers, including two state police troopers, shut down Princess Anne Street to respond to the incident.

Fredericksburg Patch will update this story when more information is released.

Get daily and breaking news email updates from Fredericksburg Patch by signing up for newsletters here. For instant updates, follow Fredericksburg Patch on Facebook and Twitter.