COLUMBIANA COUNTY Police have a suspect in theft from task force

Authorities aren't saying if the suspect is a member of the law enforcement agency.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Most of the money taken from the Columbiana County Drug Task Force is now back in the hands of authorities, and a suspect has been identified.
The money was returned Wednesday night to county Prosecutor Robert Herron, Sheriff Dave Smith said this morning.
"It's practically all the money that was missing," Smith said, although he declined to provide a figure.
The money was handed over to Herron by someone acting as a go-between for the suspect, Smith said.
Few details revealed: He declined to say whether the suspect belongs to the six-person task force, which consists of members from police departments in East Liverpool, Columbiana, East Palestine, Washingtonville, Lisbon and Salineville.
Smith also refused to discuss a motive for the theft.
Task force operations were suspended Tuesday when the theft was reported to the sheriff's office by Eric Boggs, task force director.
Investigation: Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation were to be in town today to continue probing the theft. Their input will be sought before an arrest is made, Smith said.
BCI was asked to investigate because so many area police agencies belong to the task force, and the sheriff's office wanted to ensure the probe would be an independent inquiry, Smith explained.
The theft occurred in the sheriff's department's jurisdiction. The task force office is north of Lisbon in Center Township.
The agency is operating this year on a $72,000 budget.
Most the money comes from a federal grant. But part is from property forfeited by people convicted of drug-related crimes.
The task force frequently uses cash to buy drugs as part of undercover investigations.