TAG raids yield drugs, arrests

Staff report

CORTLAND

The Trumbull-Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force, with the assistance of several police departments, confiscated illegal drugs and made several arrests in Cortland and Warren.

On June 10, the task force, with the assistance of Cortland police, recovered a large garbage bag of marijuana and three clear bags of marijuana and a scale from an Erie Street apartment in Cortland. Charges are pending against the resident; when the search was executed ,nobody was home.

On June 9,T AG, aided by Cortland police, searched an East Main Street apartment. The residence was empty, but during the search a man and a woman arrived. The male, Chris Uthe, was searched and investigators found two small bags of marijuana, $105, and nine unidentified pills wrapped in cellophane. Also discovered in the residence were a digital scale, plastic bags, drug paraphernalia, several small bags of marijuana packaged for sale and a handgun.

Uthe is charged with trafficking and possession of marijuana for sale, according to a news release.

On June 3, aided by Warren police and the U.S. Marshals Service, TAG searched a home on Stewart Street Northwest in Warren. A man and a woman were present.

William Phinisee is charged with trafficking in heroin. Confiscated from the home were nine bundles of heroin packed in rice, 11 Xanax pills, additional suspected heroin, eight miscellaneous pills, a digital scale, suspected crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and miscellaneous paperwork.

Also June 3, the task force and Warren police searched a Milton Street Southeast home. They found several juveniles in front of the residence, along with Brandon Coleman, 29, who was charged with trafficking and possession of marijuana.

Outside in a mailbox, investigators found a small bag of marijuana. Also confiscated from Coleman were $795 and a Vicodin pill.

Inside, investigators found a digital scale, minor amounts of marijuana and miscellaneous unidentified pills. The task force encourages citizens to report suspicious activity to the drug hot line at 330-675-7890 or toll-free at 877-835-4375 or visit www.tagohio.com.