Columbiana Co. drug task force takes part in three home raids

Several people face various charges in the raids.

SALEM — The Columbiana County Drug Task Force has been involved in three raids recently, including one Tuesday at the Mahoning County farmhouse where imprisoned ex-Congressman James A. Traficant Jr. once lived. The current renter was arrested.

The search for guns and drugs at 6908 W. South Range Road turned up three firearms, including two rifles, said Bob Balzano, resident agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration. No drugs were found.

Jason D. Mullins, 23, was taken into custody after a traffic stop near the house and taken to the Columbiana County Jail, Balzano said.

The DEA got involved to assist in an investigation by the Columbiana task force, Balzano said.

Salem Police Detective David Talbert said authorities were searching for Mullins, who allegedly had previously gone to two locations in Salem with a rifle while searching for another person.

Early Wednesday, the task force along with Salineville police served a warrant at a house at 19747 Monroeville Heights in Salineville. The task force had been investigating activities at the house for five months.

Dan Downard, the head of the task force, said 123 doses of heroin were found, along with used syringes, digital scales and prescription drugs.

Debbie Riggs, 47, who lives in the house, had apparently called local authorities earlier and said her daughter-in-law, Melissa Riggs, 23, was having a seizure and may have been dead.

Riggs’ son, Shane Riggs, 28, then called authorities to say everything was fine. Police and emergency personnel couldn’t find Melissa Riggs at the house, and left.

An anonymous caller then told police there was a woman in the basement who had suffered a drug overdose. Police returned and found Melissa Riggs hiding behind a bedroom door. She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Debbie and Shane Riggs were each charged at the scene with obstruction of a police officer.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, East Liverpool police, the task force, the DEA, and the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation also conducted a raid at 1159 Pennsylvania Avenue in East Liverpool

Downard said marijuana, crack cocaine, about $1,700 in cash were found at the scene.

While police were converging on the house, someone threw a handgun out of the house.