A longtime Brandon Township employee has been placed on paid leave after her arraignment on felony drug charges last week.
Christine Fisher, 46, was arrested Sept. 8 by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team after drugs including heroin, cocaine and marijuana, as well as various drug paraphernalia used for drug trafficking were discovered during a search of her Waterford residence.
Fisher was arraigned in 51st District Court on Sept. 10 on felony charges of possession of heroin and possession of cocaine, each punishable by five years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine, as well as a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. She was released on bond from the Oakland County Jail on Sept. 11.
Fisher is the full-time administrative assistant at the Brandon Fire Department and has been employed by the township for 23 years. She was a long-time township resident before moving to Waterford.
OCSO Sgt. Greg Glover of the Brandon substation said police have been investigating Ahmed Caldwell, whom Fisher lived with, for several months after Caldwell sold narcotics to an undercover officer on three different occasions.
Felony warrants were turned over to a surveillance team, who arrested Caldwell as he exited the Waterford house where he lived with Fisher and got into a purple Land Rover. They stopped the vehicle, in which heroin and cocaine packaged for sale was found. A search warrant was then executed on the house, in which there was a safe that contained heroin, cocaine, cash and a handgun registered to Fisher. A bedroom appears to have been shared by Caldwell and Fisher, Glover said, with mail in both their names to the address, as well as men’s and women’s jewelry, shoes and clothes.
Heroin, cocaine and marijuana were all found in the bedroom, as well as clear drug packaging materials, including vacuum sealers and scales for weighing drugs.
‘Narcotics were out in the open, some were in the nightstand next to her bed,? said Glover. ‘There is no question she knew the narcotics were in her house. There was a lot of traffic in and out of that home and narcotic sales were taking place at that house.?
Caldwell’s five count felony warrant included possession charges, as well as sale and manufacture of narcotics.
Fisher has no prior criminal history.
Glover noted both Fisher and Caldwell had medical marijuana cards, but had far more marijuana in the home than they were allotted.
Brandon Fire Chief David Kwapis said Fisher is on paid administrative leave pending outcome of an investigation by the township and authorities.
‘The township board is aware of the issue and will be the ultimate decision-maker of (Fisher’s) job status,? said Supervisor Kathy Thurman.’I was very surprised to see these charges brought against her because she’s been a very good employee.?
Glover called Fisher’s actions ‘a rotten situation? for the fire department.
‘Here is somebody that is actively involved with possession of narcotics and narcotics trafficking,? he said. ‘Because the fire department has paramedics, they are in possession of narcotics for medical runs, which does not make for a good setting for someone actively involved with narcotics. At some point, we could have done a search warrant on our own fire department. We did not do that, because nothing shows she was doing anything of that nature at the fire department. If it was (an employee of) the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, that person would be immediately terminated.?
Glover said Fisher has been ‘absolutely uncooperative in this investigation.?
A preliminary exam for Fisher is set for Sept. 30 at Waterford’s 51st District Court.