Canfield OSP drug stats up

May 13, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

State troopers for the Canfield post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol have 55 more drug cases so far this year compared with the same time period in 2013.

Statistics provided by the patrol through May 5 show the troopers have recorded 93 drug violations so far in 2014, up from the same period in 2013 when they had 38.

In Trumbull County, troopers there have 99 drug cases compared with 84 in 2013.

Lt. Nakia Hendrix, commander of the Canfield Post, said part of the reason for the increase at his post is that more of his troopers are helping run extra patrols with Youngstown police and also are increasing their presence in the eastern part of the county, in the Campbell/Coitsville area.

Hendrik said in those areas, they take a look at crash and driving under the influence arrest statistics to coordinate where troopers will be stationed on state highways in those areas.

On those roads, Hendrix said, troopers’ number one goal is still to reduce the number of fatal or serious injury crashes, but they are also able to make an impact by making drug arrests as well because those roads are heavily traveled.

Hendrix said though troopers are finding a variety of drugs, they are seizing a lot of heroin and needles and other drug paraphernalia.

“We are seeing the entire spectrum,” Hendrix said.

Hendrix also said within the last year or so the patrol statewide has placed more of an emphasis on crime patrols to augment their role for traffic safety.

Statewide, troopers have made 3,840 drug arrests in 2014, up from 3,167 in the same period in 2013.

At the Southington Post in Trumbull County, Lt. Brian Holt said increased training on what to look for during traffic stops has helped his troopers have more drug cases.

Holt said his post’s drug cases are spread pretty evenly throughout the county and besides heroin, they are also finding a lot of crack cocaine.