Ohio State Highway Patrol "Contributing to a Safer Ohio"

Latest News

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be conducting OVI Checkpoints in Allen, Cuyahoga counties this week.

Troopers seize $20,000 worth of hydroponic marijuana and loaded gun in Warren County

An Ohio man is facing felony drug and weapon charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized four pounds of hydroponic marijuana, worth approximately $20,000 and a loaded .45 caliber handgun, following a traffic stop in Warren County. Troopers stopped a 2005 GMC delivery van, with Texas registration, for a speed violation, on Interstate 71 northbound, near milepost 23, in Warren County at 7:07 p.m. on June 14. more

Inaugural “Public Safety Leadership Academy” class graduates

he first “Public Safety Leadership Academy” class graduated 30 law enforcement leaders today after 11- weeks of accredited, college-level training through a partnership with The Ohio State University – John Glenn School of Public Affairs. The training was hosted at the Patrol’s Training Academy and was offered at no cost to agencies by using casino tax revenue that was distributed to the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services for the purpose of supporting law enforcement training efforts. more

Troopers find marijuana, crack, heroin and loaded gun in Hocking County

The Lancaster Post of The Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped a 2013 Hyundai Sonata on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 8:23 p.m. on US 33 at milepost 22 for a speed violation. Criminal indicators were observed and a Hocking County Sheriff’s Office drug sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a small amount of marijuana and drug packaging items. A search of the driver, Lashawna M. Love, 28, revealed approximately 7 grams of crack cocaine and 7 grams of heroin. A search of the passenger, Carl L. Gordon Jr., 30, revealed approximately an ounce of cocaine. Both subjects were arrested and incarcerated in the Fairfield County jail for a weapon violation as well as possession and trafficking of drugs. Both subjects are from the Columbus area.

6-State Trooper Project to kick-off multi-state Distracted Driving enforcement and awareness effort next week

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be joining forces with other members of the 6-State Trooper Project for a distracted driving enforcement and awareness effort June 16 – 22 in an effort to reduce distracted driving related crashes and raise awareness about the dangers distracted driving creates. more

Patrol again partnering with The Mid-Ohio School, KeyBank and Kuhmo Tire for Key to Safe Teen Driving Program

More info at keytosafeteendriving.com

Patrol partnering with Indiana State Police for Operation Blue Light

The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Indiana State Police will kick-off a three month enforcement effort, dubbed Operation Blue Light, focusing on Interstate 70 from the West Virginia/Ohio state line to the Indiana/Illinois state line. The effort will run from June 4 – August 31. more

Recent Criminal Patrol Activity and Investigations

June 11, 2013

A man from California is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized a kilo of cocaine, worth an estimated $84,000 following a traffic stop in Williams County. Troopers stopped a 1998 Honda Civic, with Washington registration, for a following too closely violation on Interstate 80, near milepost 8, at 1:46 p.m. on June 11. more

June 10, 2013

Troopers stopped a 2000 Honda Civic, with Pennsylvania registration, for a speed violation on Interstate 80 eastbound, near milepost 139 in Lorain County at 8:01 a.m., on June 10. During interaction with the driver, troopers detected an odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed a backpack containing more than a pound of marijuana, worth $4,500 and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle’s truck. The driver, Tyler A. Bond, 18, a known drug violator, and his passenger, Timothy E. Woods, 20, both of  Cranberry, Pa., were incarcerated in the Lorain County Jail and charged with possession of marijuana, a fifth-degree felony.  

June 4, 2013

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers said they stopped a 2007 Dodge Charger on U.S. 23 southbound, near Rosemount, at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday for a traffic violation. Troopers observed what they said were criminal indicators and the subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately five ounces of crack cocaine. more from portsmouth-dailytimes.com

May 28, 2013

Two men from West Virginia are facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized two ounces of heroin, worth $10,000 following a traffic stop on the Ohio Turnpike in Lorain County. Troopers stopped a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, with West Virginia registration, for a turn signal violation, on the Ohio Turnpike, near milepost 136, in Lorain County at 12:12 p.m. on May 28. more

May 25, 2013

Troopers stopped a rented 2013 Ford Escape, with Vermont registration, for a speed violation on the Ohio Turnpike, near milepost 88 in Sandusky County at 8:17 a.m. on May 25. During contact with the driver, troopers detected an odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed a styrofoam bowl, containing 61 grams of Khat, worth approximately $1,200 in the center console. The driver, Sanad Bassery, 31, of New York, N.Y., was incarcerated in the Sandusky County Jail and charged with possession of Khat, a fifth-degree felony. Khat is a flowering evergreen shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The fresh leaves, twigs and shoots of the Khat shrub are chewed like tobacco and is considered a controlled substance.

May 25, 2013

Troopers stopped a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, with Ohio registration for a speed violation on Interstate 71 northbound, near milepost 204 in Medina County at 10:40 a.m., on May 25. After a registration check of the vehicle, revealed a felony warrant for larceny for the vehicle’s co-owner. A Patrol drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed a personal handbag containing four separate plastic bags of marijuana, weighing 1.3 pounds, worth approximately $6,200.  Brandy M. Bates, 28, of Marietta, Ga., was incarcerated in the Medina County Jail and charged with possession of marijuana, a fifth-degree felony.

May 24, 2013

Troopers stopped a 2013 Nissan Altima, with Pennsylvania registration, for a speed violation on Interstate 80, near mile post 120 in Erie County at 5:21 p.m. on May 24. Upon approaching the vehicle, troopers detected an odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed three plastic bags containing Khat, weighing 141 grams, worth approximately $3,000. The driver, Mustafa Almansoori, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was incarcerated in the Erie County Jail and charged with drug possession, a third-degree felony. Khat is a flowering evergreen shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The fresh leaves, twigs and shoots of the Khat shrub are chewed like tobacco and is considered a controlled substance

May 23, 2013

Troopers stopped a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner, with California registration for an unsafe lane change violation on Interstate 70 eastbound, near milepost 10 in Preble County at 11:39 a.m., on May 23. Criminal indicators were observed and a Patrol drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed two thin packages of vacuum sealed hashish, weighing more than a pound, worth approximately $2,505. The driver, Patrick Cirelli, 29, of Penn Valley, Calif., and passenger, Brandon David Mundell, 26, of Tahoe City, Calif., a known drug violator, were incarcerated in the Preble County Jail and charged with possession of hashish, a third-degree felony and possession of criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.  

May 20, 2013

Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Special Response Team (SRT) and investigators with the Columbus Division of Police’s Narcotics Bureau dismantled a hydroponic marijuana grow operation in the city of Columbus. Three suspects were arrested. Investigators simultaneously executed search warrants on two residences suspected of conducting indoor marijuana grow operations. more

May 17, 2013

An Ohio man is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized a loaded 9 mm handgun, eight grams of heroin, a gram of marijuana and 18 ecstasy pills during an OVI checkpoint in Summit County. On May 17, troopers with the Canton Patrol post were conducting a OVI checkpoint on South Main Street, in the city of Akron when, Noah Eskridge, 23, of Akron entered the checkpoint at approximately 11:59 p.m. more

May 15, 2013

A man from Indiana is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized three-quarters of a kilo of cocaine, worth nearly $63,000 following a traffic stop in Preble County. Troopers stopped a 2007 Dodge Charger, with Indiana registration, for a speed violation, on Interstate 70 eastbound, near milepost 8, in Preble County at 11:20 a.m. on May 15. more

May 16, 2013

Troopers stopped a rented 2013 Ford Taurus, with Kentucky registration for a marked lanes violation on Interstate 75 southbound, near milepost 197, in Wood County at 12:38 a.m., on May 16. Criminal indicators were observed and a Rossford Police Department drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed a mason jar containing hydroponic marijuana, weighing approximately 125 grams; 82 Hydrocodone pills; and six Adderall pills in the vehicle. The contraband has a street value of $1,560. The driver, Derek B. Bullington, 42, of Taylorsville, Ky., and passenger, Paul L. Witt Jr., 41, of Louisville, Ky., were incarcerated in the Wood County Justice Center and charged with two-counts of trafficking and possession in Hydrocodone, all fourth-degree felonies; and trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony. Witt was also charged with possession of Adderall, a fifth-degree felony.

May 14, 2013

One man and two women from Ohio are facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized two ounces of heroin, 192 oxycodone pills and one ecstasy pill, worth approximately $17,000 following a traffic stop on the Ohio Turnpike in Summit County. Troopers stopped a rented 2012 Chevy Cruze, with Pennsylvania registration, for a marked lanes violation, on the Ohio Turnpike, near milepost 177, in Summit County at 6:47 p.m. on May 14. more

May 14, 2013

Troopers stopped a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer on Interstate 77 southbound, near milepost 50 in Guernsey County at 11:12 a.m., on May 14, after a registration check of the vehicle revealed the owner’s driver license was suspended. Criminal indicators were observed and a Patrol drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed approximately one pound of cocaine inside the dashboard of the vehicle. Troopers also located a small amount of marijuana in the rear cargo area. The contraband has an estimated street value of $39,000. The driver, Jesse Jones, 30, of Akron was incarcerated in the Guernsey County Jail and charged with possession of cocaine, a first-degree felony.

May 13, 2013

Troopers stopped a 2002 Ford Expedition, with Ohio registration for failing to display a front license plate on Livingston Avenue in the city of Columbus at 4:57 p.m., on May 13. Upon approaching the vehicle, troopers detected an odor of raw marijuana. During interaction with the passenger, he admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle’s trunk. A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed a garbage bag containing nearly 1.5 pounds of marijuana worth and estimated $3,000. The passenger, Stephen D. Thomas Jr., 22, of Columbus, Ohio, was incarcerated in the Franklin County Jail and charged with possession of marijuana, a fifth-degree felony.