The Wheeling Police Department today announced the results of a recent two-month-long special operation that resulted in multiple arrests and roughly 200 grams of various illegal drugs seized.
The special operation took place from mid-August to mid-October after data indicated a rise in crime, fueled by multiple citizen complaints regarding criminal activity in and around the East Wheeling neighborhood, specifically 15th Street.
Through saturation patrols and a high-visibility approach, officers focused primarily on reducing quality-of-life-related crimes, with thefts, drug usage and distribution, and nuisance-related calls being the top complaints.
35 people were arrested as a result of the operation and face various criminal charges. Nine other people were issued citations for minor offenses.
Since the successful conclusion of the operation, data has indicated a 75% reduction in recorded drug overdoses within the East Wheeling area/WPD Downtown District. Criminal activity and citizen complaints also have significantly decreased.
Officers spent roughly 232 hours on the operation and confiscated 91.5 grams of cocaine, 78.6 grams of methamphetamine, 28.95 grams of crack cocaine, and 0.9 grams of fentanyl. Additionally, police served 15 search warrants, seized $1,214 in cash, and recovered two firearms.
I am always proud to see the system we’ve built at the WPD utilized and demonstrate results,” Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said. “The geographic policing and problem-oriented policing models are very effective. From gathering data to CompStat meetings to listening to concerns from our citizens to command-level leadership demonstrating skills and abilities, dedication, and work ethic. This two-month effort encompasses all of that and has proven, yet again, to be effective. I hope that citizens and businesses in the downtown district and East Wheeling area are as proud of their police department as I am.”
The following is a list of those arrested and their charges or citations:
Roland Nathanial Copney, 35 of Wheeling
-Federal Indictment for Possession with Intent to Deliver and Firearm Possession by a Prohibited Person
Benjamin Edwards, 52, of Wheeling
-Federal Indictment for Firearm Possession by a Prohibited Person
Brian Anthony Waldvogel, 35, of Wheeling
-Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person
Brittany Chantel Green, 34, of Wheeling
-Maintaining a Drug Premise
James Russell Cox, 39, of Wheeling
-Breaking and Entering
Lewis Edward Nida Jr., 54, of Wheeling
– City Capias x2
Robert Edward Mike, 52, of Valley Grove, WV
-Possession of a Controlled Substance
Charles Smith Rippy Jr., 69, of Pittsburgh, PA
-Citation for Parking Violation
Keith Dwayne Smith, 47, of Wheeling
-Citation for Open Container
Ruby Lynn Holley, 44, of Wheeling
-City Capias
Rudolph Richard Galberth Sr., 66, of Wheeling
-City Capias
Teresa Lynn Bakaitis, 64, of Wheeling
-City Capias
Timothy Joseph Frazier, 61, of Bridgeport, OH
-Citation for Driving Suspended 1st, Expired Registration
Jessica Mae Ensminger, 42, of Colliers, WV
-Citation for Possession of a Controlled Substance
Benjamin Eugene Dyer, 39, of Wheeling
City Capias, Possession of Controlled Substance & Citation for Possession of a Controlled Substance
Ronald Jerell Jennings, 42, of Wheeling
-Obstructing
Percy Shannon Sinclair [a.k.a. ‘Pacman’], 41, of Wheeling
-Possession of a Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Drug Premise
Encil Torrey Knudsen, 34, of Wheeling
-Probation Revocation
James Alan Hunter, 52, of Wheeling
-City capias x2, Fugitive from Justice
David Russell Kerns Sr., 52, of Wheeling
-Possession with Intent to Deliver
Tiffany Nicole Fazio, 35, of Wheeling
-Possession of Controlled Substance x2
Joshua Patrick Steed, 36, of Wheeling
-Breaking & Entering, Possession of Controlled Substance
James Allen Contrill, 58, of Wheeling
-Citation for Open Container
Brandy Sue Matthews, 43, of Wheeling
-Citation for Trespassing
Korrie Lynn Webb, 38, of Wheeling
-Domestic Battery
Bishop Collette Paige, 46, of Wheeling
-Prostitution
Anthony Lee Arms, 43, of Wheeling
-Delivery of Controlled Substance, Conspiracy
Chelsea Aleece Radcliffe, 35, of Wheeling
-Delivery of Controlled Substance, Conspiracy
Ashley Nichole Martin, 38, of Wheeling
-Fugitive from Justice
Charles Edward Mayfield Jr., 39, of Wheeling
-Citation for Possession of Controlled Substance
Eric Daniel Wagner, 45, of Wheeling
-Citation for Trespassing
Shelly Marie Gaschler, 51, of Wheeling
-Delivery of Controlled Substance
Kyle Scott Marsh, 39, of Wheeling
-Capias
James Dempsey Short Jr., 44, of Wheeling
-Two Counts of Burglary
Shenelle April Carmalt, 41, of Wheeling
-Maintaining a Drug Premise
Michael Thomas Cujas, 43, of Benwood, WV
-Citation for Driving while Suspended (3rd Offense)
Ryan Matthew Wright, 31, of Wheeling
-Destruction of Property, & Obstructing
Katrina Kathleen Cameron, 49, of Wheeling
-Possession with Intent to Deliver
Michael Lee Williams, 42, of Wheeling
-Possession with Intent to Deliver, Delivery of Controlled Substance, Conspiracy
Tiffany Nicole Taylor, 34, of Wheeling
-Possession with Intent to Deliver, Conspiracy
Jenna Nichole Keener, 27, of Wheeling
-Maintaining a Drug Premise
James Edward Williams, 41, of Wheeling
-Conspiracy
