ASHTABULA — Eleven Ashtabula-area residents were arrested early Thursday in
a drug sweep that capped a months-long investigation into heroin
trafficking, officers said.The bulk of the
arrests occurred in Ashtabula, but more arrests could result from search
warrants still being served late into the day Thursday, said Sheriff William
Johnson. Names and addresses of the suspects were not immediately available
Thursday afternoon.
The suspects could make their initial
appearances today in Ashtabula Municipal Court, officers said.
During the sweep, officers discovered a quantity
of drugs and other contraband, Johnson said. “(The arrests) put a stop to a
lot of current, large activity involving heroin and stolen property,” he
said.
Sheriff’s detectives assigned to the
Trumbull-Ashtabula Group law-enforcement task force served as lead
investigators and were assisted by agents from a handful of agencies,
including the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
said Lt. Van Robison of the sheriff’s department. FBI agents also
participated in the sweep, he said.
Until all warrants were served, deputies were
reluctant to discuss the specifics of the investigation.
“It was an eight-month investigation,” Robison
said. “The focus was heroin trafficking. Evidence was found at some
addresses.”
The people arrested Thursday range in age from
18 to around 50, Robison said. The majority came to the county three or four
years ago, he said.
Undercover agents became involved in the case in
August, buying the drug from suspects, Robison said.
“It’s been a good investigation,” he said. “It
takes a lot of manpower and resources.”
Deputies and agents began fanning out across the
city shortly before 8 a.m. Many of the people arrested Thursday morning were
taken in without incident. Agents swinging a sledgehammer broke open a door
at a Michigan Avenue residence after occupants refused to answer a knock at
the door.
Deputies and agents also served warrants at
another Michigan Avenue location, as well as homes on 29th Street, Johnson
Court and a Lake Avenue business.
No law-enforcement personnel were injured,
Robison said. “Everything was done safely,” he said. Heroin use in the area
seems to be on the rise, Robison said. “Methamphetamine (activity) is still
out there, but not as frequent,” Robison said. “We believe (the individuals
arrested) are the source of a lot of heroin (in the area). “Heroin
trafficking has hurt some good families in our community,” he said.
|
