TRUMBULL COUNTY Officers arrest 5 in narcotics raid

NILES -- Agents from the Niles police narcotics unit, Trumbull County Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' Youngstown office arrested five people at hotels in Niles and Warren early Wednesday.
The arrests followed a six-month investigation during which agents bought crack cocaine. Roger Barns, 51, of Hamilton S.W., Warren, is charged with aggravated drug trafficking.
Rhonda Phillips, 38, Maple Avenue, Cortland, is charged with complicity to aggravated trafficking. Both were arrested at the Park Inn, U.S. Route 422. Crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and money also were seized from the hotel room. Both Barns and Phillips are scheduled to return Wednesday to Niles Municipal Court for preliminary hearings.
Scottish Inn: Three others were arrested at the Scottish Inn, Route 422, on drug trafficking charges.
Those charges were expected to be filed today in Warren Municipal Court. Agents called in the Trumbull County Tactical Response Team to gain entry at the hotel. Suspected crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, money and the suspects' vehicle also were seized.
Police said management at both hotels cooperated with authorities.