At his home in Platte City
A Platte City man in custody since March on drug charges has told authorities he rents out rooms in his house, choosing tenants who are addicted to heroin and meth.
Eric G. Anderson, age 47, was residing at 200 Marshall Drive in Platte City when the Platte County SWAT team executed a search warrant upon the house last December. The Victorian-style home, which public records show was built in 1870, is recognizable to most who travel in and out of downtown Platte City, sitting near what is generally referred to as “the top of” Main Street near the intersection with Marshall Drive.
As a result of the findings of the search warrant, Anderson was charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon in connection to the controlled substance.
Anderson has been jailed in Platte County since March 15, according to public records. His bond is set at $20,000 cash only. His next court appearance in the case is scheduled for Aug. 12 in front of Judge Thomas Fincham.
Platte County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team with a search warrant entered the home at 200 Marshall Drive on Dec. 19. Detectives say they found on the coffee table in the living room a baggie with a crystal substance, which they identified as methamphetamine. Also on the coffee table was found a black tar substance authorities identified as heroin, according to the allegations.
Detectives say they found six smoking pipes which was field tested for meth and four digital scales with residue, as well as unknown numerous pills. Also found, authorities say, was a Montgomery Ward shotgun, which was sawed off.
In the bedroom in which they believe Anderson was living detectives say they found heroin and a green leafy substance which showed positive for THC and CBD. They also found five glass smoking pipes and other paraphernalia, according to court documents.
According to the probable cause statement, later in an interview with detectives, Anderson stated he had slipped back into using heroin after his wife left him and he lost his business from COVID-19 lockdowns.
He told police he started using heroin but was not addicted. He said he used daily out of boredom and started again when he met his girlfriend.
Anderson refused to talk about where the heroin and meth came from, authorities say in court documents.
At other times during the interview, Anderson told police he was addicted to heroin and had to make money since he was six months delinquent on paying his mortgage.
Later Anderson stated he rented rooms in his house to make money to pay mortgage and utilities. According to court documents, he told police he “selected tenants who were addicted to heroin and meth and were living in hotels to save them money, and to help them break their addiction to drugs.”