Iowa City Police: Man Arrested After Investigators Find More Than 10 Pounds of Marijuana in Residence

An Iowa City man is facing felony drug charges after a drug warrant was served at his Davenport Street residence in March, and a search revealed a large amount of marijuana and thousands of dollars in cash.

According to Iowa City Police criminal complaints, Gerald Lawrence Gerard, 40, of Iowa City was arrested last week after the Johnson County Drug Task Force searched his residence at 1102 East Davenport Street on March 1.

The officers searching the residence found over ten pounds of marijuana and $20,535 in cash, much of it found together in a large safe in the house's basement, according to the complaint. They also reported finding digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and "items related to the manufacture of marijuana" in the residence.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reported Friday that this search of Gerard's residence occurred after a search of his garbage following a tip:

Police said they received anonymous information that Gerard was receiving large shipments of marijuana via UPS. 

In late February, Blomgren and two other task force members seized two bags of trash from Gerard’s curb. Police searched the bags and found marijuana roaches, a torn package for rolling papers and large plastic bags. One bag had “OG Kryptnight” written on it, the other had the number 457.3 written on it, a reference to a single pound of marijuana, police said.

Assuming an average price of marijuana at $200 per ounce, ten pounds of marijuana would have a street value of $32,000.

Gerard faces charges of marijuana possession with intent to deliver and possesion of drugs without a drug tax stamp, both Class D felonies.