Officials execute annual ‘Operation Grinch’

Several local departments served dozens of warrants between Brooke and Hancock counties on Friday as part ‘Operation Grinch’ — the largest crime raid of the year.

“A lot of felonies this time and a lot of drugs this time,” said Weirton Police Chief Rob Alexander, whose department was joined by several other law enforcement groups (see below). “These charges including multiple counts of delivery, possession of controlled substances, intent to deliver, conspiracy to deliver.”

Operation Grinch happens once a year, and no, it’s not because the officers’ hearts are two sizes too small.

In fact, it’s just the opposite.

“To hold them accountable for those actions during the holidays so that the innocent people enjoying the holidays aren’t being victimized,” Alexander said.

The perps taken into custody included everything from sexual predators, to drug dealers, and more than two dozen other felony offenders in the area.

One of the five search warrants turned up 10 grams of Fentanyl – or 5,000 lethal doses of the drug.

“With that much Fentanyl alone, we saved 5,000 people’s lives during this Christmas holidays, so if you want to call me a Grinch, call me a Grinch,” Alexander said. “Ya know, it is what it is. “

Officials also seized 200 grams of cocaine, a little more than 3 pounds of marijuana, an ounce of Ecstasy, four fire arms and more than $16,000.

In all, 26 people were arrested, and they’re looking at 31 felony charges.

The Brooke and Hancock sheriff’s offices and drug task forces, Jefferson County Drug Task Force, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, and West Virginia State Police assisted in Operation Grinch.