Drug Case Suspects Post $10,000 Bonds

Two of three persons arrested Wednesday in a narcotics raid on a north side home have been released on bond and the third was expected to post bond later today. John P. Cassell, 21, of Farmington, Thomas D. Powell, 23, of Detroit, and Patricia Billmayer, 19, of Grand Rapids were arraigned yesterday before District Court Judge S. J. Elden. All three were charged with possession of marijuana and Miss Billmayer, a Washtenaw Community College student, is also charged with possession of heroin. The three defendants asked for an adjournment until Monday to consult an attorney. Judge Elden granted the adjournment and ordered Cassell and Powell to post release bonds of $10,000 each. They posted the bonds at District Court late yesterday afternoon and were released. Miss Billmayer had her original bond of $10,000 reduced to $5,000, and her parents were scheduled to post that amount today. The young woman was remanded to the County Jail after yesterday's arraignment pending posting of the bond. The trio was arrested by a squad of officers from four police agencies which descended on 219 Brookridge Rd. near Daniel St. on the city's north side Wednesday afternoon. A foot locker containing over 61 pounds of high-grade marijuana which could have been sold for $96,000 was seized by the raiders. In addition a quantity of heroin and hashish was confiscated in the two-family house, authorities say. Miss Billmayer rented the house a week ago and had recently started classes at Washtenaw Community College, police say. Her parents came to Ann Arbor from Grand Rapids yesterday and met with Judge Elden and narcotics detectives much of the afternoon. They told authorities here they plan to take their daughter back to Grand Rapids with them when the bond is posted.