Nine arrested in two-day drug raid | Local News

ASHTABULA — Nine people were arrested, and Ashtabula police say they seized heroin, fentanyl, guns and cash after a lengthy multi-agency criminal investigation.

Ashtabula Police Detective Michael Palinkas said they executed search warrants Wednesday and Thursday at three residences after receiving tips from the community and undercover operations.

During the two-day operation, police seized fentanyl, heroin, cash, firearms, digital scales and drug packaging materials. As a result, four people now face felony drug charges and five other people were arrested on felony warrants, he said.

Police searched 1404 W. Eighth St., where they found marijuana, heroin, about $3,000 in cash, scales and packaging, hash oil and a gun with ammunition.

Joseph Turner, 36, of Ashtabula, was arrested and charged with trafficking in narcotics, possession of criminal tools, tampering with evidence and having weapons while under disability.

The second target was 1134 Hamlin Drive, where police found items consistent with trafficking in narcotics, as well as suspected methamphetamine. Charges will be forthcoming for those involved, Palinkas said.

The third target was 1149 W. Ninth St., back downstairs apartment, where investigators discovered meth, marijuana, suspected heroin, scales and packaging, along with about $4,000 in cash.

Steven Zepeda, 39, of Ashtabula, was arrested and charged with trafficking in narcotics, possession of drugs and possession of criminal tools.

Daryl Patterson, 39, also of Ashtabula, was arrested after fleeing the 4200 block of Cleveland Avenue. He was taken into custody a short time later on outstanding warrants and obstructing official business.

During a traffic stop, Christopher Boucher, 32, of Ashtabula, was found to have heroin. He was arrested on the drug offense and taken to the city jail.

During another traffic stop, police arrested Samuel Pinkston, 36, of Ashtabula, on active warrants from Lorain County. He was cited for possession of marijuana and booked into the city jail to await extradition.

The names of the five people arrested on warrants will be released at a later date, police said.

City police conducted the operation with the help of the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service, Adult Parole Authority, Adult Probation, Geneva Police Department, Conneaut Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

The Ashtabula police appreciates the agencies that assisted in the operation, Palinkas said in a release.

“The issues directly associated with the drug problem in our region have no jurisdictional boundaries, which have been recognized by the assisting agencies. We anticipate more operations such as this in the near future,” he said in the release.

In the past 20 years, drugs have become a major problem in the city and officers depend on tips from citizens to help keep drugs and dealers off the streets, Police Chief Robert Stell said.

In the past five years, fentanyl — a pharmaceutical opioid 100 times stronger than morphine typically used for pain relief in cancer patients — is one of the main culprits feeding northeast Ohio’s drug overdoses.

Raids like this week’s have taken drugs, as well as guns, off the streets, he said.