Niaire Clipper. (Photo provided by Washington County Sheriff's Office)

Two Ohio men were arrested on drug charges Wednesday by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Niaire Danali Clipper, 20, 5257 Fairland Road, Norton, Ohio, arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl and trafficking in drugs (fentanyl), both second-degree felonies. He was also arrested on an active indictment from December 2024 charging him with trafficking in fentanyl and possession of fentanyl, both second-degree felonies.

Antione Timothy Dortch, 19, 636 Hallie Avenue, Akron, Ohio, was arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl and trafficking in drugs (fentanyl), both first-degree felonies.

Dortch and Clipper appeared in Marietta Municipal Court and were both being held on $200,000 bond plus personal recognizance. Their next scheduled court date is March 26.

According to a press release from Washington County Sheriff Mark Warden, the arrests occurred Thursday when a pair of deputies on stationary patrol on Interstate 77 saw a silver van pass their location, with no visible registration. The deputies conducted a traffic stop at the 11 mile marker.

Antione Dortch. (Photo provided by Washington County Sheriff's Office)

The registration was a temporary tag through Ohio, however was unable to be seen until deputies were outside the patrol vehicle. One deputy made contact with the driver, whose name was not provided, and rear passenger Clipper, while the other deputy met with the passenger, also not named, and rear passenger Dortch. The driver advised the vehicle was a rental.

Both Dortch and Clipper advised they did not have identification, however provided their Social Security numbers. Deputies were advised of an active indictment warrant for drug charges on file for Clipper, who was removed from the vehicle and secured.

K-9 Mauser was deployed and during a free air sniff of the vehicle, indicated on the passenger side of the vehicle. All occupants were removed and during a pat down of Dortch, deputies recovered a cellophane object.

Deputies removed 21.95 grams of suspected fentanyl contained in a clear plastic baggie, and 4.90 grams of suspected fentanyl in a blue plastic baggy. Dortch was advised of his Miranda Rights and he did not wish to speak about the drugs located.

Clipper advised deputies he had drugs on his person and was advised of his Miranda Rights.

Two baggies were removed from Clipper’s pant leg. The first bag of suspected fentanyl, in a sandwich bag, contained 13.69 grams and the second bag contained 5.81 grams. A working scale was also located in the vehicle.

Deputies took possession of all items and secured them.