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Local News

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Police agencies join forces to fight drug dealers, abuse
Findlay Inn & Conference Center -Downtown Findlay
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Northwestern Ohio police departments and prosecutors' offices have joined forces in an attempt to curb drug dealing and drug abuse.

Hancock, Seneca and Wyandot counties are part of a 10-county task force known as the METRICH Enforcement Unit.

METRICH, an acronym used often in news stories about drug arrests, got its name from a collaborative unit forged in 1986 between the Mansfield Police Department and the Richland County sheriff's and prosecutor's offices. It's short for "Metro-Richland County."

There are about 30 such task forces in Ohio, according to Doug Engel, chief deputy for the Defiance County Sheriff's Office and director of the Multi-Area Narcotics Task Force, which covers Putnam County.

There are also state and federal forces which do similar work.

Most task force operations are done undercover, in unmarked vehicles, and using plainclothes officers, confidential informants, crime tip lines, and audio-recorded drug buys and sales, according to Findlay police Sgt. Jim Mathias, who was assigned to Hancock County's METRICH unit.

Task forces receive grants to operate and use officers from several departments who share crime intelligence and personnel, Mathias said. Investigations can take months.

In Hancock County, there are six officers from the Findlay Police Department and sheriff's office who conduct these investigations. The county joined the METRICH unit in 1999.

Sometimes, investigators make an arrest immediately after a suspect buys or sells from an undercover officer or confidential informant.

Other times, the suspect is not arrested right away, and the buy or sale is used to build evidence, according to Seneca County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Don Joseph, who works with the Seneca County METRICH Unit.

Sheriff's offices in Hardin and Putnam counties also work with other departments to bust drugs.

In September, officers from the Kenton and Ada police departments, and Hardin County sheriff's and prosecutor's offices formed the "Hardin County Crime Task Force."

Much of its work is dedicated to busting those with heroin, according to Sheriff Keith Everhart.

"I've never seen it like this," he said. "It's destroying the county."

Putnam County is joined by police and sheriff's offices in Defiance and Williams counties, which forge the Multi-Area Narcotics Task Force, according to Putnam County Sheriff James Beutler. It's a spin-off of a crime unit formed by his father, Sheriff Robert Beutler, in the 1970s.

Online:

www.metrich.com

www.man-unit.org



Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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Homebuilders
News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.