Staff writer
After seizing 3.3 grams of methamphetamines and 20.2 grams of marijuana from seven people in four busts over the weekend, Marion police had a message for drug users in the city.
“If you’re using it, selling it, or making it, we’re going to find you, and you’re going to go to jail,” Chief Tyler Mermis said.
The four busts, made in a span of 14 hours, all pertained to methamphetamine possession.
Bradford Cody, 28, Hillsboro; Christopher Swartz, 28, Marion; Shannon Lehr, 32, Herington; Charles Matthews, 32, Marion; Kendra Henry, 39, Marion; Stephen Mumford Jr., 38, Marion; and John Drow, 46, Marion, were all booked into Marion County Jail over the weekend on drug-related charges.
Cody and Swartz were detained during a traffic stop in which a Marion officer recognized the driver as someone without a valid license.
Later, a burglary-in-progress was called in that led to the arrests of Lehr and Matthews.
Henry, Mumford, and Drow were targets of search warrants, with two warrants executed within 20 minutes of one another, with assistance from the Sheriff’s Department and Hillsboro Police Department.
“I’m very proud of my guys,” Mermis said. “I’m proud of the Sheriff’s Department and Hillsboro Police Department officers that helped also.”
All, with the exception of Matthews, were charged with possession of methamphetamines. Cody and Swartz were charged with intent to distribute.
“It’s here. Meth use is here,” Mermis said. “Sometimes it’s just not apparent until it gets brought to light.”
All but Matthews and Lehr were charged with possession of marijuana, and all seven were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Mermis said the warrants were not based on intelligence gathered from the preceding arrests, but were written Sunday morning. He said a lot of work went into the investigation that led to the arrests made via warrant, but it was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Just a regular investigation,” he said. “Just my guys being on top of things.”
All seven arrests included charges of drug paraphernalia. Cody was charged with driving while suspended, and he and Swartz were charged with transportation of liquor in an open container. Henry and Mumford were charged with aggravated child endangerment.
Mermis said all Marion police officers assisted in the carrying out of the warrants. Between the warrants and the preceding night’s arrests, Marion officers put in 30 hours of consecutive duty.
“That’s how dedicated the guys are to the city of Marion,” he said.