WARREN Youngstown worker faces drug charges

Federal agents arrested the city worker on drug trafficking charges when he finished plowing streets.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A 37-year-old Youngstown Street Department worker faces three felony drug trafficking charges after raids at a home here and in Youngstown by federal, state and local law enforcement officials turned up suspected drugs.
An arraignment was scheduled this morning in Youngstown Municipal Court for Michael Dowdy of Youngstown, said Frank D'Alesio, agent in charge of the local Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department.
D'Alesio said Dowdy, who is in the Mahoning County jail, was arrested Thursday afternoon after he finished his shift.
"We followed him around as he plowed the roads and made the arrest when he was done," D'Alesio said.
ATF, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Trumbull County Sheriff's Department and Niles police assisted in the monthlong investigation, D'Alesio added.
Drug purchases
Officials noted that several drug purchases were made by agents during the investigation.
Before Dowdy's arrest, law enforcement officials also searched a home on Transylvania in Warren and a home on Ford Street in Youngstown.
Officials confiscated $60,000 in cash and about seven pounds of suspected cocaine from the Youngstown home.
"We believe more arrests will be forthcoming," D'Alesio said. "We are still looking for someone."
sinkovich@vindy.com