Drug task force arrests local man

SALEM -- The Columbiana County Drug Task Force arrested Sean Seward, 29, of North Raccoon Road, Austintown, on drug charges about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on North Lincoln Avenue.
A Columbiana County grand jury earlier issued an indictment against Seward on one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of cocaine, which are felonies.
Seward's arrest came after a yearlong investigation, the task force said Wednesday.
The indictments come with weapon and forfeiture specifications, which mean he reportedly had a weapon when he had the drugs, and authorities can ask the court to seize money or property he had when he had the drugs.
Jonathon E. Ritchie III, 24, of Franklin Avenue, Salem, was in Seward's vehicle when police stopped it. Ritchie was charged with obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, and possession of a marijuana, a minor misdemeanor.