Struthers man charged with drug trafficking

By Ed Runyan

Additional bags of the suspected drugs were found inside the truck.

AUSTINTOWN — A Struthers man was arrested Wednesday after an Austintown patrolman pulled him over for having a missing license plate, and 45 pounds of suspected marijuana and cocaine were found in his truck.

Authorities estimate the street value of the drugs to be about $70,000 or more.

Roger R. Shaffer, 31, of 34 Wilson St., was placed in Mahoning County Jail, charged with first- and second-degree felonies that carry penalties of up to 36 years in prison on conviction. He is charged with first-degree felonies of cocaine drug abuse and cocaine trafficking and second-degree felonies of marijuana drug abuse and marijuana trafficking.

Detective Sgt. Jeff Solic of the Austintown Police Department and a member of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, said Shaffer was the target of a task force drug investigation dating back to last September.

Solic said Shaffer, who is on probation for a federal marijuana trafficking conviction, is believed to be an upper-level drug trafficker who supplies other drug traffickers.

Patrolman Allen Phillips stopped Shaffer’s 2004 Ford F-250 pickup truck at 11:41 a.m. Wednesday on Kirk Road near Redgate Lane for having no front license plate.

When Phillips approached Shaffer, the officer noticed Shaffer’s hands were shaking and he appeared to be very nervous, a police report said. Phillips also smelled marijuana while speaking with Shaffer, so he called for a Youngstown Police K-9 officer.

The dog “hit on” a black nylon bag in the bed of the truck, which the dog ripped, exposing several plastic bags containing suspected marijuana. Forty one-pound plastic bags were found in the nylon bag, police said.

Members of the task force arrested Shaffer and found five additional bags of suspected marijuana and also a bag containing several ounces of suspected cocaine inside the truck.

Officers also went to a nearby residence, where they said they found a large steel, locked box containing an additional 27 pounds of marijuana and about two pounds of suspected cocaine.

Shaffer, who had just left the residence before the traffic stop, had a key with him that unlocked the steel box, police said.

Officers also confiscated two cell phones and $925 in cash.

Solic said the investigation continues.

runyan@vindy.com