Drug raid nets two arrests
One suspect on bond for prior chargeBy Kate York, kyork@mariettatimes.com
Two Columbus men allegedly threw 71 grams of crack cocaine and a loaded gun out the window of a Harmar home Thursday, but that wasn't enough to keep them both from being charged with first-degree felonies.
Members of the Major Crimes Task Force charged Brandon Jennings, 24, of 2122 Fenton St., Columbus, and Demetrius Haley, 23, of 2381 Delavan Drive, Columbus, with possession of cocaine. Charges related to the .45 caliber handgun also found will likely be added, said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks.
Each man's bond was set at $100,000 in Marietta Municipal Court Friday. They are scheduled for preliminary hearings at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Haley was already out of jail on a $5,000 bond for a fourth-degree felony charge of trafficking in cocaine. A Reno woman arrested out of the same March incident as Haley pled guilty in Washington County Common Pleas Court Friday to three felony drug charges.
The 71 grams of crack cocaine found Thursday has a street value of between $15,000 and $20,000, according to the sheriff.
"This was a pretty huge amount of crack cocaine," Mincks said. "There have been a growing number of people from out of the area coming into Marietta for a short time, selling their product and then going back because there is more demand here. The same amount in Columbus would only get them half as much."
Haley and Jennings also fit another disturbing trend, Mincks said.
"We've been finding more and more, with alarming frequency, people engaged in selling drugs that are carrying firearms," he said.
When officers arrived with a search warrant Thursday evening at the back residence of 134 Franklin St., they discovered the crack and gun that had been dropped out of a window. They found Haley and Jennings in the room with the window. No one else was in the home, Mincks said.
Both men said the items belonged to the other when questioned.
Mincks said information from neighbors was a help in the case and that residents in every neighborhood should take notice if there is a lot of traffic coming and going from a home or someone who seems to be staying in the area part-time.
Anonymous tips can be left for the Washington County Sheriff's Office at its Web site, www.washingtoncountysheriff.org.
A resident who lives near the Franklin Street home said Friday that all the neighbors suspected illegal activity at the home.
"We're all disgusted," said the woman, who asked not to be identified. "They can take that stuff back to Columbus and get out of our neighborhood."
Michelle R. Oldfield, 41, of 27400 State Route 7, Lot 50, Reno, was arrested March 5 after task force members reported finding 3.25 ounces of crack cocaine with a street value of more than $15,000 at Oldfield's residence in Reno. Haley and another man were also charged out of the incident.
Oldfield pled guilty before Common Pleas Judge Ed Lane to one fourth-degree felony count and one fifth-degree felony count of trafficking in cocaine as well as one fifth-degree felony count of cocaine possession.
At the time of Oldfield's arrest, Mincks said the drug seizure was the largest in county history.
Washington County Prosecutor Jim Schneider said Oldfield faces a maximum of three-and-a-half years in prison and a $20,000 fine when she is sentenced at 8 a.m. Aug. 28 in Lane's court.
Schneider said Oldfield also changed a not-guilty plea to guilty stemming from drug charges for which she was indicted in early 2007.
Mincks said the sheriff's office is constantly working on community education programs to try to reduce the market for illegal drugs in the area.
"We'll come and speak to anybody," he said. "We want to teach everyone not to touch that stuff and educate the public to lessen the demand here."
The Major Crimes Task Force is composed of representatives from the Athens, Morgan, and Washington County sheriff's offices; Athens, Marietta and Belpre police departments; the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification; and the Athens, Morgan and Washington County prosecuting attorney's offices.
Sam Shawver contributed.
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benfranklinton
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07-20-08 7:38 PM
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I'm quite left of center, but one thing I never bought was the "disease" idea of addiction. Addiction is more a matter of self-control and will power, and calling it a disease is a slap in the face to people with real diseases, such as cancer, congestive heart failure, or stroke.
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NasCarNut
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07-20-08 12:21 PM
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Finallap: i know several people who get a check every month because they're either drunks or addicts...say they can't hold a job...bullsh!t...
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benfranklinton
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07-19-08 8:08 PM
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I am glad that the Marietta police have so much leisure time that drug raids make the front page. Drugs should be legalized--whatever was found here was probably less harmful than "safe" and legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. Unless your last name is Limbaugh, possession of narcotics will net you draconian prison sentences.
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jewels
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07-19-08 4:55 PM
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you people are so--- smart you simply amaze me
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Finallap
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07-19-08 3:52 PM
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NASCAR nut.alcohlics and drug users can no longer get SSI and disability It has to be a regular disabilty now....They stopped this several years ago
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NasCarNut
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07-19-08 1:19 PM
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i feel they need higher bonds and longer jail sentences and no reduced sentences for telling on one another...users telling on users gets us no where...i also feel law enforcement knows who is who...the judges need to follow through after the arrest..JMO oh,cut back on the SSI payments...alcohlics and drug users should not be getting SSI...i know people who have real disabilities that have a h*ll of a time getting SSI or Disability...
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Indian
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07-19-08 12:21 PM
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Someone get columbuscitychick's name and address, she must have information that will help us get some other transient dealers.
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columbuscitychick
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07-19-08 11:40 AM
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Do you people honestly believe just people come to Washington County to sell their drugs reality is druggies from Washington County go other places and buy it and bring it back to Washington County to sell it to others You guys never hear of all the people who come to Columbus and get busted. People from Wshington County think they are so much better than anyone else. Thank God I left that county 17 yrs ago. All I can say it at least our cops in Franklin County work for their money. You will never be able to get rid of the drugs for every one person that gets caught believe me there is 10 more selling to someone else in the area
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Parent
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07-19-08 11:23 AM
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He was tired of these girls ruining his hometown so he took action. Now just to clarify myself in a past statement, just videotaping a person coming in and out of a crack house won't get them arrested. But seeing where they go after they buy the crack and knowing that they are associated with a crack house can sure help. After these prostitutes were caught in the act he dialed 911 and gave the police the tapes and they actually went and arrested them. I guess what I am saying is that if we all got together and kept our own streets a little more monitored, (videotape) it could be possible to run them out.
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Parent
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07-19-08 11:16 AM
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What I don't understand is why would anyone want to do this stuff in the first place. I HAD a friend who was a great looking guy and he started using crack, now he is about 100lbs. lighter, looks like a walking zombie and no teath!! What's the rush in that! It takes all kinds of people in this world to make it go around. And WE chose how to live our lives. Neighborhood watches and a video camera can make a big difference in catching the users in the act. You take a camera and videotape a crack house and the people who come in and out of them and that is evidence to take them off the street. And yea, I know our court system is not the greatest in the world for keeping them in jail. But a solid piece of evidence to a Judge is a good way to keep them in there longer. I watched on MSNBC last night a special of Caught on Camera. It was just a normal person off the street with a video camera and he was actually catching prostitutes in the act! CONTINUED
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Morris
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07-19-08 10:34 AM
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Does anyone else see another part of this problem? Here's your clue from the article: "Haley was already out of jail on a $5,000 bond for a fourth-degree felony charge of trafficking in cocaine. A Reno woman arrested out of the same March incident as Haley pled guilty in Washington County Common Pleas Court Friday to three felony drug charges." Our criminal justice system is completely broken. $5000 bond? Let's see- so, basically this thug paid a bailbondsmen $500 and was able to go back to business here in Marietta! By the way, in the 5 years we have lived here, there has been a notable increase in a certain element of people from out of the area that, it would appear, are here for no other reason than to commit crime, ie sell drugs. (it is certainly not for the hot job market)The other thing is, it takes willing buyers for these thugs to want to move in and out of the area. It would seem there are many willing buyers here. Very very unfortunate.
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troyinohio
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07-19-08 10:00 AM
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To all crackheads: Drugs are Cheaper in Columbus! GO THERE! Please.
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