Sweep nets drugs, weapons

Staff report

warren

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s sweep of the city and surrounding communities for drugs was a success, Sgt. Patrick Abel said Sunday.

Operation Shield, which began at 2 p.m. Friday and concluded at 6 a.m. Sunday, was a response to the area’s heroin scourge.

Abel said he believes at least one person was found with heroin. Others were found with cocaine and marijuana, he said.

There also were 10 arrests on charges of operating a vehicle impaired and 15 felony arrests. One of the top 10 fugitives in the Mahoning Valley was apprehended, he said, though he didn’t offer more-specific information.

Two rifles and a few handguns were confiscated, he said.

There were roughly 600 stops Friday in the city of Warren alone, he said. His statistics were only from the OSHP.

Other agencies that participated in the operation included the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

“There were a lot of different hands and a lot of details to work out,” he said.

“The big message is the heroin epidemic,” Abel said.

Not only did officers hand out pamphlets at their traffic stops, but counselors were available at the police department for those arrested on drug charges if they wanted help with addiction.

The operation was supported by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in response to the spike in heroin deaths in Trumbull County.