Local News

3 arrested in Washington County drug bust

MARIETTA - Three Akron men are in custody at the Washington County Jail on charges related to alleged drug trafficking.

The arrests followed a traffic stop Tuesday at mile marker 10 on Interstate 77 in Salem Township, according to a release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Danzell Larry Lee Sullivan, 20, 900 Frederick Blvd., Akron, OH, was charged with trafficking in and possession of fentanyl, both first-degree felonies. He's being held on a $50,000 bond.

Paris Dean Timmons, 32, 7 Courtland Drive, Akron, was charged with trafficking in and possession of fentanyl, both third-degree felonies, and trafficking in and possession of cocaine, fourth-degree felonies. His bond was set at $35,000.

Christopher James Shrake, 49, 638 Hammel St., Akron, was charged with complicity in trafficking fentanyl, a second-degree felony, and obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor. He's being held on a $30,000 bond.

Shrake was driving the vehicle when agents of the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force stopped it after observing it commit lane violations and follow too closely, the release said. K9 Timmy conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle and gave an indication on the front driver's side door.

Sullivan exited the vehicle with an odor of marijuana coming from him, the release said. When asked about it, he said there was an empty mairjuana bag in the car. A search yielded approximately 75.7 grams of suspected fentanyl concealed in his groin area, the release said.

Timmons gave consent to be searched and approximately 9.76 grams of suspected fentanyl and 5.8 grams of suspected cocaine were found concealed in his groin area, the release said.

Shrake reportedly told agents he was giving Sullivan and Timmons a ride to Marietta and back to Akron.

Timmons, Sullivan and Shrake all appeared Wednesday in Marietta Municipal Court.

The Southeast Major Crimes Task Force is part of the Ohio Attorney General's Organized Crime Investigation Commission and is comprised of representatives of the Washington, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Meigs and Athens County Sheriff's Offices; the Marietta, Belpre, Middleport, McConnelsville, Nelsonville and Glouster Police Departments; the Washington, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Meigs and Athens County Prosecutor's Offices; and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.