5 arrested after complaints by neighbors

Police took caution to avoid syringes in the filthy house, the police chief said.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Complaints to police from residents of a West Side neighborhood led to the arrest of five people on drug charges.
Police Chief Bruce Simeone said uniformed and undercover police and agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation also seized crack cocaine, money and assorted drug paraphernalia.
The arrests and seizure came Wednesday afternoon at a 404 N. Chestnut St. house.
Simeone said neighbors began complaining four of five months ago about the large volume of vehicle traffic at the house. Some of the residents had taken their complaints to city council meetings.
Those going in and out of the house were both using and selling drugs, the chief said.
"The place was a mess," Simeone said. "It was filthy."
He explained that officers were cautious, so that they were not pricked by syringes lying around the interior.
Who was charged
Those charged appeared Thursday before municipal Judge Thomas Townley:
Roger Barnes, 55, who lives at the Chestnut house, pleaded innocent to possession of a controlled substance -- crack cocaine. He is being held with bond set at $100,000. The chief said other, separate drug charges are pending against him in Niles. Last June, Barnes was arrested during a drug sweep in Niles to face five counts of trafficking in drugs.
Nick Bako, 51, who also lives at the house, pleaded innocent to permitting drug abuse. He was released after posting a $2,500 bond.
Larry Owens, 31, of Olive Street, pleaded no contest, was found guilty of possession of marijuana and sentenced to 180 days in jail. He pleaded innocent to possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lisa Cox, 28, who lives at the Chestnut house, pleaded innocent to permitting drug abuse and was released after posting a $2,500 bond.
Heather Kover, 37, of Comstock Street, Warren, pleaded innocent to possession of drug paraphernalia and was released on $1,000 bond.
Simeone said additional drug trafficking charges will be filed later.
yovich@vindy.com