Boardman police nab two alleged drug dealers after undercover operations
BOARDMAN
Township police nabbed several suspects during drug investigations this week.
The township narcotics-enforcement unit conducted operations Tuesday that led to the arrest of two purported drug dealers.
On Tuesday morning, the unit sent a confidential informant – supplied with $80 in cash and placed under audio and visual surveillance – to buy crack cocaine from a person at an undisclosed location.
The operation led to the arrest of Devin West, 32, of Youngstown, on a fourth-degree felony charge of trafficking in drugs within the vicinity of a juvenile. West was arrested at Stanton Avenue and Southern Boulevard during a traffic stop, during which police reportedly found the department’s cash in West’s possession.
Also arrested was passenger Dasha Burley, 31, of Youngstown, for permitting drug abuse.
The unit then conducted a similar operation, leading to the arrest of Darius Dates, 17, of Youngstown, on charges of drug trafficking, obstructing justice, possessing drug paraphernalia and on a pickup order out of juvenile court on a theft charge.
Police Chief Jack Nichols said the narcotics unit has to be prepared to deal with two types of drug deals: those in which the buyer has to travel to a set location, such as a house; and those in which a person can call and order drugs.
“It’s a lot like a pizza delivery business now,” he said. “They deliver, and we arrest them. That’s the best way to not get arrested, is to not deliver it to Boardman.”
On Tuesday night, police arrested three men after staking out a Tiffany Boulevard South hotel after a complaint about possible drug activity there.
Brothers Steven Johnson, 28, and Todd Johnson, 29, of Grove City, Pa., are charged with one count each of heroin possession, a fifth-degree felony. Todd Johnson also is charged with felony tampering with evidence after purportedly attempting to shove heroin under the seat of a police cruiser and with misdemeanor counts of possession of drug-abuse instruments and paraphernalia. Daniel Kurtek, 29, of Jackson Center, Pa., is charged with misdemeanor counts of permitting drug abuse and possessing drug-abuse instruments.
Charged with tampering with evidence in a separate drug-related incident is Jarvis Abrams, 22, of Youngstown. Abrams was arrested Wednesday night during a traffic stop, during which he purportedly attempted to destroy evidence by eating a stash of marijuana while detained in a police cruiser.
Asked by an officer why he consumed the marijuana instead of accepting a minor-misdemeanor citation for possession, he said, according to a police report, “I can’t even afford a minor misdemeanor.”
He was issued a minor-misdemeanor citation and charged with a second-degree felony count of tampering with evidence.