On April 29, Detectives with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit, assigned to the Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission; along with the Richland Township Police Department, and the St. Clairsville Police Department encountered two vehicles in a local shopping plaza believed to be involved in a drug transaction.
Roland Ledford, 45, of Uhrichsville, Ohio, was booked into the Belmont County Jail for trafficking and possession of methamphetamine and cocaine. Shawn Harris, 52, of Adena, Ohio, was arrested and transferred to the Jefferson County Jail for outstanding warrants.
Detectives seized approximately 24 grams of cocaine, 43 grams of crack cocaine, and 84 grams of methamphetamine. Detectives also seized $26,000 suspected drug proceeds.
Sheriff James Zusack thanks the hard work and effort shown by his employees combatting the narcotic problem, as well as, the local officers from Richland Twp. PD and St. Clairsville PD that assisted in this investigation, as well as many others.
Multiple Agencies Make Multiple Arrests
On April 30, detectives with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit, assigned to the Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission; along with the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, the St. Clairsville Police Department, and the Barnesville Police Department began an investigation into drug trafficking at a local hotel.
Detectives attempted to place four suspects into custody as they approached the suspect’s vehicle, during which two of the four suspects fled on foot, and were shortly detained by Detectives.
Michael Claytor, 19, Eric Jones, 18, Rishun Jones, 22, and Terry Hopkins, 23, all of Youngstown, Ohio, were booked into the Belmont County Jail for charges including possession and trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Both, Michael Claytor and Rishun Jones were charged with resisting arrest due to the foot pursuit.
Detectives seized approximately 17 grams of cocaine, 72 grams of fentanyl, and 306 grams of methamphetamine.
Sheriff James Zusack states that this is an ongoing investigation and anticipates additional arrests. The Criminal Interdiction Unit of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate anyone who brings illegal narcotics into Belmont County. Sheriff Zusack would like to thank the members of the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, St. Clairsville PD, and Barnesville PD for their continued cooperation to combat this narcotic epidemic.
