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3 held after EL drug raids

EAST LIVERPOOL Valentine’s Day wasn’t very sweet for some city residents as several law enforcement officers simultaneously executed search warrants at three locations just before dawn Friday, resulting in three arrests and confiscation of drugs and other evidence.

The county Drug Task Force (DTF) was assisted by city police officers, the county Special Response Team (SRT), county sheriff’s office, Alliance City SWAT and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as they converged on homes at 908 Bradshaw Ave., 503 E. Fifth St. and 414 Ogden St.

Using battering rams and “flash bangs” to create diversions, the officers entered the homes heavily armed. East Liverpool’s K-9 team of Chad Tatgenhorst and Ivo also searched the residences as well as a rental car behind the Fifth Street residence reportedly being driven by one of the men inside the house.

At the upstairs apartment of the Bradshaw Avenue home, officers arrested resident Michael Childs, 27, on an outstanding warrant out of Trumbull County.

Inside, they reported finding $300 in cash, a surveillance system, digital scales and small amounts of heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana.

As this operation took place, another group of officers converged on the East Fifth Street apartment, where Anthony “Ace” Williams, 23, and Eric “EJ” McQueen, 22, were both arrested. Police listed McQueen’s address as the East Fifth Street residence and Williams’ as Youngstown.

A 9mm handgun was found in the residence, and Williams was charged with having weapons under disability. McQueen was arrested on an outstanding warrant from East Liverpool Municipal Court.

Heroin and cocaine scales were also reportedly found inside the East Fifth Street residence.

Deandre Dozier of Campbell and Fred Williams of Canal Winchester were also located inside the Fifth Street residence, but neither was arrested.

Both the Bradshaw Avenue and East Fifth Street homes are owned by local resident Aaron Stevens, according to police.

At the Ogden Street home, Amy Corak, 34, who police listed as homeless, was taken into custody on outstanding warrant from East Liverpool Municipal Court. Inside the residence was found drug paraphernalia, pills and $2,400 in currency, according to the DTF.

Also inside the home were the owner, Robert P. Chan, 56, and Julius “Junebug” Ruffin, whose address was listed as Lorain. Neither was charged.

The Ogden Street residence was the subject of a search warrant last August by many of the same law enforcement groups, that time resulting in the arrest of Chan for permitted drug abuse. Corak was also located in the house that time but not charged.

The county prosecutor had boarded up the Ogden Street property several years ago, declaring it a public nuisance after city police logged numerous reports of illegal activities there.

Former owner, Bob Conkle, was required to sell the house after it had been boarded up for a year, and he sold it to Chan. City police Chief John Lane said during the August raid that the property had again become a nuisance and that 414 Ogden St. is habitually given as the home address of people arrested by his officers.

Drug Task Force Director Brian McLaughlin said further charges are pending on multiple people as the investigation continues.

jgilbert@mojonews.com

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