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Police bearing gifts (a warrant) greet Wellsville man’s return home

WELLSVILLE — A Wellsville man originally from the Lorain-Cleveland area and known to police for dealing drugs is facing charges following a warrant issued by federal authorities.

Julius Ruffin, 39, of 335 Broadway, was arrested Wednesday morning by Wellsville police, who acted on a warrant obtained through the U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio on drug-related charges

According to Lt. Marcia Eisenhart, the arrest was made at Ruffin’s home sometime after 10 a.m. as he was sitting in his vehicle. He was reported to have been apprehensive.

Within an hour, he was turned over to U.S. Marshals.

“He had just pulled up in front of his residence, and that’s where we got him,” Eisenhart said. “At first, he wouldn’t get out of the car because he said he feared for his life. So I had to physically get in the car and undo his seat belt, and then we pulled him out and he was on the ground. He was taken into custody.”

Eisenhart said that, according to DEA agent Erik Kochanowski, Ruffin transported three onion-sized baggies of fentanyl from Columbus to Cleveland hidden inside his colon. Federal agents intercepted the baggies two weeks ago, which were surgically removed from Ruffin.

According to Eisenhart, village police were familiar with Ruffin, as he reportedly sold drugs from the Emerald Motel on Clark Avenue that was shut down by police two years ago. He had also been described as having an arrogant demeanor toward female cashiers at local stores.

“His problems were that we knew that he was slinging dope, and at the stores, the cashiers at the stores, he was treating them bad,” Eisenhart said. “He was arrogant.”

After the arrest was made, Eisenhart said that Ruffin remarked “I’ll be back,” and also supposedly said “12-12-12” to a U.S. Marshal’s officer, which according to Eisenhart is believed to mean “kill a cop, kill a cop” in the Cleveland area.

Eisenhart thanked village police and federal officials for their efforts in catching Ruffin.

Ruffin was charged with unlawful acts to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense a controlled substance with a kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.

Eisenhart added that Ruffin is also being looked at as a person of interest for an assault in Hancock County, W.Va., and for a possible homicide in Youngstown.

Ruffin faces over 20 years in prison if convicted. A court date has not yet been determined at this time.

srappach@reviewonline.com

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