information bulletin of trafficking drugs. police report they found 200 marijuana plants and...
TRANSCRIPT
26 Years Serving North Central Ohio Communities
METRICH honors retirees
Regional
Tom Blunk of the Hancock County Sher-
iff’s Office and Knox County Sheriff Da-
vid Barber, who served for 20 years as
sheriff.
During the luncheon meeting, the
Rev. Dan Gates, a recovery specialist
from Reformation Unanimous in Shelby,
spoke about the impact the task force and
local law enforcement have had in
changing the lives of people addicted to
drugs.
Three local people told their personal
stories of their troubles with the law, in-
cluding a 24-yearold local woman who is
a recovering heroin addict who found
God and was able to get treatment in part
thanks to the assistance she received
from Mansfield police Lt. Ken Coontz,
head of METRICH.
Mansfield police Chief Dino Sgam-
bellone said METRICH officials wanted
to show people METRICH is not just
about enforcement.
“We work with our community part-
ners to get people help when we can,”
Sgambellone said. “This is our 26th
year, and I still think the task force
serves as the best model for collabora-
tion.
“I’m proud to be part of the task force
that has earned a great reputation
throughout our 10 counties for the quali-
ty of service we provide to our citizens,”
Sgambellone said.
Originally published in the News Journal
on November 1, 2012.
Crawford County Sheriff Ron
Shawber was among three retiring
METRICH drug enforcement task
force members honored Wednesday
during the agency’s annual meeting at
the Holiday Inn.
Shawber served 32 years as sheriff,
but worked for the department for 43
years. He will retire at the end of the
year.
“I started there as a road dog and I
had no intentions of ending up where I
did,” he said.
Upon receiving the honor, Shawber
said he is a “country cow-town sheriff”
and was dealing with big city folks
when METRICH formed.
“Sometimes our definitions were a
little different until we got together.
We always stepped back and looked at
it and Phil (former Mansfield police
Chief Messer) and people over here
(were) willing to listen,” Shawber said.
“Sometimes we made them come to
Crawford County to listen. We’d sit
down and discuss it. We always came
to a good understanding.”
Shawber said the 10-county MET-
RICH task force developed into what it
is now because of the collaboration of
all involved.
“Each county has their own repre-
sentative which METRICH deals with
and pulls us all together. We aren’t
only the largest task force, we’re the
most successful,” he said.
Also honored were retiring Sgt.
METRICH Enforcement Unit
Information
Bulletin
4th Qtr 12, No. 12-12
December 2012
‘Search yields 200 pot plants, 2 arrests Marion County
2
Two arrested after search Hancock County
2
Man, 62, faces heroin charge Seneca County
2
$700K in pot seized in city Richland County
3
Downtown drug bust leads to arrest Seneca County
3
Tiffin man arrested on drug charges Seneca County
4
200 arrested in multi-agency effort Seneca County
4
2012 Annual Stats Regional
5
Inside this issue:
METRICH Central Office
30 N. Diamond Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44902
counts of trafficking drugs.
Police report they found 200
marijuana plants and cultivating
equipment during the search, as
well as heroin, drug paraphernalia
and a large amount of prescription
narcotics.
Officers with the MARMET-
METRICH Drug Task Force,
Marion City Police, Marion
County Sheriff's Office and the
sheriff's counter assault team partic-
ipated in the search.
Charges will be filed with the
Marion County Prosecutor's Office.
Originally published in the Marion
Star on October 19, 2012
Two men were arrested fol-
lowing a search at 3 p.m.
Wednesday at 567 Lexington
Ave., Marion Township.
Dustin Levi Britton, 31, was
arrested on a charge of permitting
drug abuse and two counts of traf-
ficking drugs, both fifth-degree
felonies. Ronald Dean Jackson
Jr., 28, was arrested on two
Search yields 200 pot plants, 2 arrests
Marion County
METRICH Enforcement Unit 4th Qtr 12, No. 12-12 Page 2
A Findlay woman and Toledo
man were arrested Thursday on
charges of possessing $12,000 in
cocaine and marijuana in a
Findlay residence.
Jessica M. Sierra, 29, of
Findlay, and Juan J. Rivera, 32, of
Toledo, were arrested after a
search at 5:11 a.m. of 208 Madi-
son Ave. revealed a large amount
of drugs, paraphernalia and mon-
ey in the home, according to the
Hancock County METRICH En-
forcement Unit.
Both were charged with a first-
degree felony charge of cocaine
possession, third-degree felony
charge of marijuana possession
and fourth-degree felony charge
of cocaine trafficking. They are
incarcerated in the Hancock
County jail.
A METRICH official did not
return a call seeking comment or
specify the size of the seizure.
Ohio revised code states that a
first-degree felony of cocaine pos-
session is in excess of 27 grams.
Possessing at least a kilogram of
marijuana constitutes a third-degree
felony, according to state law.
METRICH worked with the
Findlay Police Department's Emer-
gency Response Team on the
search.
Originally published in the Courier
on October 12, 2012.
Two arrested after search
Hancock County
the fifth-degree felony charge.
Additional charges of trafficking
in heroin are pending on the con-
clusion of the entire drug investi-
gation.
"Our investigations are leading
us to the sources who are distrib-
uting heroin in the city of Tiffin
which also has a direct correlation
with other violent crimes in the
community," said METRICH Unit
Coordinator Chuck Boyer in the
release.
According to the release, troop-
ers from the State Highway Patrol
assisted METRICH with Allison's
arrest.
Originally published in the Adver-
tiser Tribune on November 16,
2012.
A 62-year-old Tiffin resident
was arrested and charged with
trafficking in heroin following a
traffic stop Thursday on North SR
53.
According to a release from
the Seneca County Drug Task
Force-METRICH Enforcement
Unit, Robert J. Allison is being
held at the Seneca County jail on
Man, 62, faces heroin charge
Seneca County
4th Qtr 12, No. 12-12 METRICH Enforcement Unit Page 3
controlled delivery of 20 pounds
of marijuana to 354 Wayne St.
Dawes was arrested there,
leading to a search warrant for his
home, as well as Perry’s resi-
dence.
METRICH reported confiscat-
ing about 276 pounds of marijua-
na from Dawes’ residence and
about 170 pounds of marijuana
and $50,000 in cash from Perry’s
place.
“This is the largest seizure that
we’ve had for quite a while,”
Coontz said. “It’s very significant.
You don’t normally see that
amount coming through here.
They were just inundating the
community.” Mansfield police
Chief Dino Sgambellone said the
seizure will have an immediate
impact.
“This was an outstanding in-
vestigative effort by the MET-
RICH task force to intercept what
we believe to be diverted medical
marijuana,” he said.
METRICH detectives also ar-
rested Perry on June 18 during an-
other controlled delivery of approx-
imately 20 pounds of marijuana at a
Hedges Street address.
Coontz said Perry and Dawes
are from Jamaica and have been in
Mansfield for the last two or three
years.
“I don’t even know if they’re
U.S. citizens,” Coontz said.
Other agencies involved were
U.S. Postal Inspectors, the city po-
lice department, Ohio Highway Pa-
trol and the Ashland Police Depart-
ment.
Originally published in the News
Journal on November 21, 2012.
The $700,000 worth of mariju-
ana seized Monday by the MET-
RICH Enforcement Unit was
meant to be used for medicinal
purposes in California.
“Several months ago, we be-
gan an investigation involving the
trafficking of large amounts of
marijuana from California to
Mansfield,” METRICH Com-
mander Lt. Ken Coontz said.
“California is a medical marijuana
state. Some of that is being divert-
ed to our community.”
Two people were arrested in
connection with the raid. Layton
O. Dawes, 33, of 806 Greenfield
Drive, was charged with two
counts of aggravated possession
of marijuana.
Ronnie Perry, 36, of 804
Greenfield Drive, was charged
with one count of aggravated pos-
session of marijuana.
Coontz said the marijuana was
being shipped through commer-
cial mail carriers. Prior to Mon-
day’s raid, METRICH made a
$700K in pot seized in city
Richland County
Downtown drug bust leads to arrest
Seneca County
A Fremont man was arrested
and charged with trafficking in
cocaine after an undercover drug
operation in Tiffin Thursday af-
ternoon.
James R. Bell, 35, was arrested
and charged with the fourth-
degree felony charge after law
enforcement confiscated cocaine
and money during an operation in
an alley in the 200 block of North
Washington Street, according to a
release from the Seneca County
Drug Task Force
METRICH Enforcement Unit.
Bell had been out on bond
from an arrest in January in which
he also was charged with traffick-
ing in cocaine. According to the
release, METRICH arrested him
in January during an undercover
drug operation on South Wash-
ington Street.
"Mr. Bell might be a Fremont
resident, but he does have a prior
history of being in the city of Tif-
fin and being involved in drugs. His
actions obviously indicate he didn't
learn anything from the last time we
apprehended him," said METRICH
coordinator Det. Chuck Boyer in
the release.
Additional charges of possession
of drug paraphernalia stemming
from Thursday’s operation are
pending for Bell, who is being held
at the Seneca County jail.
Originally published in the Adver-
tiser Tribune on October 12, 2012.
Over 500 pounds of marijuana and $50,000 in cash were seized .
METRICH Enforcement Unit 4th Qtr 12, No. 12-12 Page 4
Tiffin man arrested on drug charges
Seneca County
A Tiffin man was arrested
Wednesday after law enforcement
conducted an undercover sting
operation that unveiled drugs, sto-
len guns and other stolen proper-
ty.
Jimmy D. Halcomb, 27, who is
believed to be linked to numerous
burglaries, break-ins and rob-
beries throughout Tiffin and Sen-
eca County, was arrested and
charged with retaining stolen
property after an arrest warrant
and a search warrant were execut-
ed at a 100-block North Washing-
ton Street residence, according to
a release from the Seneca County
Drug Task Force METRICH En-
forcement Unit.
Numerous stolen firearms, pre-
scription drugs, marijuana, drug
paraphernalia, money, criminal
tools and stolen property suspect-
ed to be involved in break-ins and
burglaries throughout Tiffin and
Seneca County were found, the
release states.
Halcomb also faces additional
charges of trafficking of marijua-
na, breaking and entering, dispos-
ing/retaining stolen property, ille-
gal possession of prescription
drugs and having weapons under
disability pending the ongoing
investigation.
Halcomb appeared in Tiffin
Municipal Court Thursday where
his bond was set at $100,000, ac-
cording to court documents. He is
scheduled to appear again in court
Nov. 16.
"The extensive investigative
work by everyone involved in this
investigation and everyone's imme-
diate response to apprehending this
habitual criminal was instrumental
to the success of this operation. I
feel our community is a little safer
this evening knowing that this indi-
vidual is presently behind bars,"
said Tiffin Police Chief Fred Ste-
vens in the release.
Originally published in the Adver-
tiser Tribune on November 9, 2012.
200 arrested in multi -agency effort
Seneca County
More than 200 people were
arrested last week following a
multi-agency enforcement effort
that targeted high crime, OVI
and traffic problem areas
throughout Sandusky and Sene-
ca counties.
According to a release from
the State Highway Patrol, the
enforcement saturation patrol
netted 539 traffic stops and 210
arrests. Officers initiated 25 cas-
es, including 13 felony cases,
and arrested 13 impaired driv-
ers.
The Sandusky County Sher-
iff's Office, the Seneca County
Drug Task Force METRICH
Enforcement Unit and local in-
vestigators also served 20 high-
profile felony warrants and five
wanted felons were arrested dur-
ing traffic stops.
METRICH Unit Coordinator
Chuck Boyer said 12 of the war-
rants were served in Seneca
County Thursday. The warrants
had stemmed from a year of
drug-related investigations in-
volving crack cocaine, cocaine
and prescription pills.
Boyer said Monday night
some felons still remained at
large.
According to the release,
seized illegal narcotics and drug
paraphernalia during the two-
day detail included five illegal
oxycodone prescription pills,
two illegal Xanax prescription
pills, 593 grams of marijuana,
30.5 grams of crack cocaine, 1.5
grams of cocaine, two guns,
$6,849 in drug money and one
vehicle.
"Successful multi-agency en-
forcement efforts, like the one in
Sandusky and Seneca counties,
illustrate the collective power of
removing drugs and wanted felons
from our communities," said Col.
John Born, patrol superintendent,
in the release.
Boyer agreed.
"It was a collaboration of eve-
ry agency and that made it suc-
cessful," he said.
Originally published in the Adver-
tiser Tribune on October 30,2012.
METRICH Enforcement Unit 4th Qtr 12, No. 12-12 Page 6
26 Years Serving North Central Ohio Communities
Ashland County
Lt. Joel Icenhour, Access Officer (419) 289-3639
Crawford County
Sgt Chris Heydinger, Access Officer (419) 562-7906
Hancock County
Sgt. Jason Seem, Access Officer (419) 424-7887
Huron County
Sgt. Seth Fry, Access Officer (419) 663-8960
Knox County
Lt Gary Rohler, Access Officer (740) 397-3333
Marion County
Maj. Bill Collins, Access Officer (740) 387-2222
Morrow County
Dep John Hinton, Access Officer (419) 946-4444
Richland County
Lt Ken Coontz, Access Officer (419) 755-9726
Seneca County
Det Chuck Boyer, Access Officer (419) 447-2323
Wyandot County
Sgt. Kerwin Wiseley, Access Officer (419) 294-2362
Points of Contact
METRICH (Metro-Richland County) Enforcement Unit is a ten
county law enforcement task force created to address multi-
jurisdictional violators of Ohio’s drug, weapons, and organized
crime statutes. The project operates with a basic “Community
Policing Philosophy” using a “Weed and Seed Strategy “ from
ten “de-centralized” offices.
Participating agencies: Ashland, Crawford, Hancock, Huron,
Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca, Wyandot County
Sheriff’s Offices and Prosecutors Offices; Ashland, Loudonville,
Bucyrus, Crestline, Galion, Findlay, Bellevue, Greenwich, Mon-
roeville, New London, Norwalk, Plymouth, Wakeman, Willard,
Mt. Vernon, Marion, Mt. Gilead, Lexington, Mansfield, Ontario,
Shelby, Fostoria, Tiffin, Carey, Upper Sandusky Police Depart-
ments; Ohio State Highway Patrol; Ohio Department of Public
Safety; BCI&I, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy; U.S Department
of Housing & Urban Development; FBI; ATF; DEA; IRS.
METRICH Central Office
30 N. Diamond St
Mansfield, Ohio 44902
Phone: 419-755-9728
Fax: 419-522-7546
FBI
S/A Brad Hoffert (419) 525-2200
IRS-CID
SAC Rowland Cresswell (419) 259-7440 S/A Jeffrey M. Paul (330) 375-5514
DEA
A/RAC Gene Corley (216) 274-3600
ATF
Lance Kimmell, Group Supervisor (216) 522-8100
Ohio BCI&I
S/A Mike Masterson, Investigations (419) 353-5603
S/A Fred Moore, Investigations (740) 845-2000
Chrissie Ross, Analyst (330) 884-7510
Ohio Investigative Unit
AAIC Greg Croft, Marion (614) 644-2413
AIC Rita Raimer, Akron (330) 644-0318
AIC Ray Rodriguez, Toledo (419) 866-9907
METRICH Information Bulletin P.O.C.: Joan Hoffert, 30 N. Diamond St., Mansfield, Ohio 44902 (419) 755-9728
Project Director, Chief Dino Sgambellone
Phone: (419) 755-9753
Email: [email protected]