Appleton Jewelry Store Owner Arrested for Allegedly Selling Meth at Store
Posted: Feb 9, 2017 12:17 PM CDT | Updated: Feb 9, 2017 12:18 PM CDT
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) - An Appleton jewelry store owner faces charges after police say they bought methamphetamine over the counter in his store on the 200 block of East Wisconsin Avenue last fall.
Knights Jewelry owner Michael Witzke faces two felony charges for delivery and possession of meth, as well as a possession of marijuana charge.
According to Brad Dunlap, the Director of the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Drug Unit, Michael Witzke who ownes Knights Jewelry faces two felony charges for delivery and possession of methamphetamine, as well as possession of marijuana.
An additional charge is also related to the proximity of the store to a local school.
"My first concern is for the children, and there is a middle school in the area, people coming and going, church activities, businesses," said Phyllis Gillespie, the owner of Iris Fine Yarns which resides only a block away from the store. "I felt a sense of shock, sadness and anger that this was happening in our community."
She says she is shocked that this was going so close to her store, and knows the negative effect hard drugs can bring.
"This has been a business that had been for a long time, they had change in operations with a death of several family members, but I certainly wouldn't have had any idea there was drug dealing going on," added Gillespie.
Members of the Witzke family have owned the store since 1969.