Docs: Muncie man runs from police after drug dealing investigation

MUNCIE, Ind. — As a result of a drug dealing-related investigation, Muncie police arrested a 26-year-old for dealing resulting in death on Monday, leading to police chasing the suspect after he was already in handcuffs.

According to court documents, filed in Delaware County on Tuesday, Tre Simmons has been preliminarily charged with:

• One count of dealing resulting in death, a Level 1 felony
• One count of dealing cocaine or a narcotic, a Level 3 felony
• One count of escape from detention, a Level 5 felony
• A misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement

In mid-January, officers with the Muncie Police Department responded to an apartment complex on a call of a cardiac arrest. When police arrived they found that a man, later identified as Ronald Swift, had died.

The documents said that Swift reportedly died with a syringe cap in his mouth. A used syringe was also located close to his body. At the scene, a phone was reportedly found with a message to and from a “Kash,” later identified as Simmons.

A family member at the scene spoke with police, explaining that her and Swift would reportedly purchase heroin from “Kash.” The documents said that the family member identified “Kash” as Simmons through a picture on his social media.

As a part of their investigation, the department established surveillance on a home in the 2200 block of S. Hackley Street, a home where Simmons reportedly conducted transactions. During the surveillance, officers saw a man who entered and exited the home. After the man was stopped by police, he was reportedly in possession of a burnt foil pack he said he purchased from “Kash.”

Police later identified a suspect vehicle as a black Saturn Aura. When officers saw the vehicle, they conducted a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Simmons, reportedly had a “large amount” of money on him as well as plastic bags of drugs, weighing more than nine grams.

After police searched Simmons, he walked toward the patrol car with officers. Then, Simmons reportedly ran away. The documents said that Simmons crossed multiple lanes of traffic and was apprehended in the parking lot of a local fast-food restaurant.

When officers conducted a search of the home on Hackley Street, there were reportedly multiple people inside the home, the documents said.

“Everyone in the residence stated that ‘Kash’ stays at the residence and either gives them heroin/fentanyl or sells to them,” the documents said. “One individual stated that ‘Kash’ takes trips to Trotwood, Ohio, about every four days to pick up drugs.”

In an interview with Simmons, the documents said he never “fully admitted to dealing drugs” to officers.