Anchorage man arrested on heroin charges due to text messages, authorities say

Earlier this week, an Anchorage man was charged with possessing, and intending to distribute, narcotics in the city.

According to federal investigators, Davon Lynn Smith was arrested following a May 13 search of an apartment that officials say he shared with a woman.

In the apartment was a safe, and inside the safe was over 100 grams of heroin, a quantity that the FBI says indicates it was meant to be sold.

Initially, investigators worked to prove first that Smith lived in the apartment, and second that the safe belonged to him. Due to both witness statements to FBI, as well as investigator surveillance, FBI SWAT officers were able to intercept Smith after he left the apartment.

On a key ring, the FBI found a key to the apartment, a key to his silver BMW parked outside, and two keys matching the Sentry safe in the apartment.

Authorities also relied on text message evidence in their charging documents filed in federal court. In those text messages, between the woman he lived with, the two refer to the apartment, and the safe, multiple times.

In one exchange, the woman identifies Smith as a "heroine seller," and when he says "idk what that is," she remarks, "You tryna [sic] play stupid Because you don't want no cops to read this."

FBI also cited text messages where Smith told the woman to store her money "in the safe," a message which was screen captured.

Following the search and arrest, officials said Smith denied living in the residence, but admitted to staying there occasionally. He also denied knowledge of the safe, despite its keys being in his possession at the time of the search, according to charging documents.