Vice raids net cash, guns, drugs and arrests

YOUNGSTOWN

Vice squad officers serving search warrants Wednesday investigating drug activity found almost $5,000 in one home and more than $1,000 in another.

Officers also found four guns, two in each home.

About 4:55 p.m. at a 597 Cassius Ave. home, officers found $4,944, a 9mm handgun, a .40-caliber handgun and pills, two bags of heroin, a bag of marijuana and a scale.

Taken into custody on weapons and drug charges was Michael Tripplett, 30, who reports said was the homeowner. Nakela Merriweather, 27, was arrested for obstruction of official business after reports said she repeatedly gave officers a false name and Social Security number.

About 6:10 p.m. at a 2715 Shady Run Road home, officers found a .22-caliber handgun, a 30.06-rifle, $1,068 in cash, a large freezer bag of marijuana and smaller bags of marijuana, heroin and crack cocaine.

The man listed as the homeowner there, Akeem Brown, 26, was arrested on charges of trafficking in drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.