Canfield cops raid recovers marijuana, evidence of making THC

By Justin Wier | August 3, 2017 at 12:07a.m.

CANFIELD

City police said they recovered evidence of marijuana trafficking while executing a search warrant Wednesday at a Timber Run Drive home.

The warrant is related to an investigation of Michael Malvasi Jr., 26, Canfield police said, noting no one is charged at this time, and the investigation is underway.

Detective Lt. Brian McGivern said the Mahoning Valley Drug Task Force assisted in serving the warrant.

Police recovered glass jars with suspected marijuana, a firearm and evidence that suggested THC was being extracted from the marijuana.

“We’re investigating that,” McGivern said. “It’s actually a pretty dangerous method.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted with recovery of the firearm.

Police also took a couple of boxes of evidence and electronic devices, McGivern said.

“We’ve been investigating this as a trafficking of pounds [of marijuana],” McGivern said. “It’s not a small amount.”

The residence and the Malvasi family have made news before.

In 2009, 10 adults and four juveniles drove to Malvasi Jr.’s home and started a brawl. The family’s security cameras captured the brawl.

The brawl resulted from an incident earlier that day when Malvasi Jr., then 18, pulled up behind Dominic Jackett, then 18, of Youngstown. Malvasi Jr. honked his horn signaling Jackett to move and then exited the vehicle and struck Jackett in the face, according to Vindicator files.

The group showed up at his home about a half-hour later. Canfield police chose to cite the people who showed up at Malvasi Jr.’s home.

Malvasi Jr. was charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault for hitting Jackett but pleaded to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct. He paid $500 in fines and performed 40 hours of community service.

In 2011, Michael Malvasi Sr., also of Timber Run Drive, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of tax evasion related to income from a skilled gaming business. He received a sentence of four months in prison and two years of probation.