According to information released by police Chief Jim Brown III on Thursday, Detective Dan Haueter initiated a drug investigation in the village on June 16.

As part of the investigation, Lt. Don Johnson made a traffic stop on North Pleasant Drive in which K-9 Toney alerted on the front passenger side door of the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, police found suspected methamphetamine, unidentified pills and drug paraphernalia. A passenger in the vehicle was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Brown said that further into the investigation, Haueter was able to obtain a search warrant for 740 E. Taggart St., Apt. A.

He said that Haueter, Johnson, and other East Palestine officers executed the warrant and seized numerous drug paraphernalia items, drug packaging materials, and suspected marijuana, THC extract and LSD.

He added that charges on those involved will be filed at a later date pending lab results. The identity of the passenger arrested on the warrant was not released on Thursday, since the investigation is ongoing.

Brown said the case is a result of the combined efforts of Haueter, Johnson, K-9 Toney, East Palestine patrol officers and the county prosecutor’s office.

“The officers did an outstanding job from start to finish. The patience, coordination and effort put into this case cannot be overstated. Our officers work tirelessly under less than ideal conditions yet they always find a way to get the job done. They continue to demonstrate unwavering dedication to keeping our community safe and combating the drug epidemic in our area,” he added.

kwhite@mojonews.com

COMMENTS