Tea Tree Gully raid: Dario Palmieri granted home detention to live with his ex

An alleged drug dealer who was caught during a raid on his mother’s home has been placed under house arrest to live with his ex-partner.

Father-of-four Dario Palmieri, 37, was one of two men arrested when heavily armed officers raided a Tea Tree Gully home in Adelaide’s west on February 29, which allegedly belonged to his mother.

Palmieri’s mother is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Police allege 35 grams of methamphetamine was found on a kitchen table, while $9,750 in cash was stashed in the microwave.

Two imitation pistols and a brass knuckle were also found in the living room.

Palmieri and his co-defendants were charged with trafficking in controlled drugs, money laundering and use or possession of a prohibited weapon for items seized from the property.

Palmieri appeared via videolink at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Friday, where he applied to be placed under house arrest to allow his ex-partner and their children to live. Adelaide Advertiser reported.

The court heard that corrections staff had spoken to Palmieri’s former partner, who was willing to have him back but ‘wouldn’t hesitate to kick him out again if he starts doing something wrong’.

Magistrate Joanna Martin told Palmieri he should be “extremely grateful” to his former partner because she was the only reason he “got out today”.

“She’s had to do that before, but she’s willing to give him another chance to accommodate him and make the kids happy,” she said.

“If you don’t clean the kitchen, cook, vacuum, garden and do everything you can to help her with those four kids, she has every right to kick you out.”

Palmieri responded that he would be “100 percent” grateful and “for his children.”

A second man, Ryan Cooney, 34, was also arrested during the Tea Tree Gully raid, where police allege they did found 350 ml of the drug GBH in his car.

Palmieri and Cooney will both appear in court again in June.