Tim Ryan, tryan@shawanoleader.com
Shawano County authorities executed a search warrant at County Supervisor Deb Noffke’s home Tuesday morning, but came away empty-handed, according to documents filed in the Clerk of Court’s office.
Shawano County sheriff’s detectives started an investigation after receiving “anonymous information” in February that Noffke and her daughter were growing and smoking marijuana at the Shawano residence and at Noffke’s business, Radio Shack, at 221 E. Green Bay St. in Shawano, according to information in the search warrant.
Noffke said Wednesday she believed the allegation was politically motivated but couldn’t say where it originated.
“I don’t want to make accusations,” Noffke said. “If you’re in office long enough, you’re bound to make some enemies.”
Noffke said she got out of the shower just as the search warrant was being executed Wednesday morning because she thought she heard a noise. She put on some clothes and went to the door to see “a whole yard full of cops with guns.”
Noffke said what followed was like having her home broken into and ransacked as authorities searched “every drawer, every cupboard, every cabinet, every bookshelf.”
Noffke said authorities seemed to realize after a short time that there was nothing to be found.
“After about 20 or 30 minutes, I think they realized their information was not on the up-and-up,” she said. “Maybe they realized halfway through that somebody hosed them.”
However, Sheriff Randy Wright said the matter is still under investigation.
“There’s still a few things being checked into,” he said.
According to a statement included in the search warrant, based on the anonymous tip, detectives started monitoring Noffke’s residence and Radio Shack in mid-February for any trash being put curbside.
Authorities collected two trash bags left outside the West Division Street residence on April 4 and took them to the Sheriff’s Department to be searched.
The report alleges that brown and green plant material was found, including what appeared to be a small leaf from a marijuana plant. There was also a large amount of dirt and soil in the bag, according to the report.
The report alleges that both the plant material and soil tested positive for marijuana. Results of a field test filed with the search warrant claim marijuana residue was found.
Noffke had no explanation for the test results.
“It can’t possibly be,” she said.
Noffke also said she was angry that such an investigation could go forward based on anonymous information.
“I would hope before you’d do this to anyone’s house you would have some solid evidence,” she said. “Nobody should have to go through this.”
Noffke speculated that the anonymous tip could be connected to hate mail sent to some County Board members earlier this year, also anonymously.
Noffke represents county District 1, which includes Wards 1 and 2 in the city of Shawano.
The search warrant was granted by a circuit court judge in Langlade County.
The warrant sought a wide range of potential evidence at the residence that could “establish the existence of a conspiracy to deliver controlled substances.”
The warrant was returned on Wednesday morning with a single-line detective’s statement attached noting, “nothing located on scene.”
The search warrant was executed about 7 a.m. Tuesday, two hours before Noffke was due at a reorganizational meeting of the Shawano County Board.
Wright said the timing was based on when the warrant was issued and what manpower was available.
The warrant shows that it was received by sheriff’s detectives at 10:37 a.m. Monday.
Langlade County sheriff’s deputies and Stockbridge-Munsee police assisted in the search.