Heath Springs Man Arrested on 33 Warrants for Property, Firearms and Drug Offenses

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, 31?year?old Christopher Ray Chappell of Heath Springs was arrested as he exited a local business, after being charged on 33 outstanding warrants related to property crimes, firearms and drugs.

Chappell had been under investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit following a April 23 search warrant executed at his Heath Springs residence. Investigators recovered items reported stolen earlier this year, including:

• A utility trailer taken from a home on University Drive in January

• Belongings reportedly stolen during a burglary on Beckham Lane

• A stolen license plate

Also seized from the property were multiple firearms—despite Chappell being prohibited from owning them—and suspected illegal drugs.

Sheriff Barry Faile said warrants were issued in April, and deputies, in cooperation with the Lancaster County Multijurisdictional Narcotics Task Force and special agents from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), had been pursuing Chappell. On June 12, agents located his 2015 Chevrolet Silverado parked at a business on Great Falls Highway. During surveillance, Chappell and a female associate left the store and Chappell was arrested without incident.

A search of the truck revealed a bag on the passenger seat containing:

• 48.37?g of suspected fentanyl

• 19.9?g of suspected methamphetamine

• 13.28?g of suspected crack cocaine

• 1.6?g of suspected cocaine

Inside the bag were also buprenorphine strips, three types of prescription?style pills, digital scales—and three handguns found elsewhere in the vehicle.

Chappell was taken to the Lancaster County Detention Center and appeared before a magistrate the following afternoon; bond was denied.

Charges filed include, but are not limited to:

• Receiving stolen goods (less than $2,000), 3rd or subsequent offense (two counts)

• Second?degree burglary

• Grand larceny over $10,000

• Possession of a pistol by a person convicted of a violent crime (five counts)

• Possession of a sawed?off shotgun and sawed?off rifle

• Trafficking fentanyl (over 28?g), methamphetamine (10–28?g), and crack cocaine (10–28?g)

• Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, amphetamines, hydrocodone/acetaminophen, buprenorphine (plus simple possession), and gabapentin without a prescription

• Possession of firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon (three counts), and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime

“All of our property crimes investigators and narcotics task force members invested many hours on these cases involving Chappell,” Sheriff Faile said. “Once we had enough evidence, we pursued the outstanding warrants. He had been moving around locally and out of town, but last Thursday his luck ran out. I appreciate the diligent work of our deputies, investigators, and the assistance from SLED. We put Chappell in jail, closed several active cases, seized significant drug quantities, and returned stolen items to their rightful owners.”

Chappell faces a total of 33 charges and remains in custody. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Anyone with information regarding this case or related incidents is encouraged to contact the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office at 803?283?3388, select Option 4, submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com/983, or use the P3Tips mobile app (available for Apple and Android). Tips may be submitted anonymously.