Riverbend Tavern closed after raid

YOUNGSTOWN — Two men were arrested and charges are pending on multiple others after the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force raided a city business for alleged drug trafficking and gambling offenses.

The task force arrived at the Riverbend Tavern at 1105 Poland Ave., shortly before 6 p.m. today and confiscated drugs and video gambling machines from the business, said Lt. Robin Lees, task force commander.

Tavern operators Larry Meenachan, 58, of Struthers, and John Messer, 59, of Austintown were arrested on gambling offenses, Lees said.

Two other people were arrested on drug offenses and released, and two more have felony drug offense charges pending, Lees said.

He added that the raid followed a six-month investigation that spread out to the suburbs.