Three more charged after drug bust in Middletown

Three more people have been arrested and charged with felonies following Monday morning’s drug raids in Middletown.

Dexter Mitchell, 31, of Mason, was charged with drug abuse-heroin and having weapons under disability. Alyx Shields, 23, of Middletown, was charged with drug abuse-heroin. Justin Castleman, 28, of Middletown, was charged with having weapons under disability.

MORE: Chief: Middletown busts target ring that supplies up to half city’s drugs

Mitchell will have his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Middletown Municipal Court, and Shields will have her hearing May 22, according to court records.

Castleman’s case was bound over to a Butler County grand jury.

On Monday, Middletown police collaborated with multiple agencies to serve warrants and make an arrest in a bust of what the chief calls a “drug ring” that supplies as much as half of the drugs in the city.

Middletown, in conjunction with the Assistant United States Attorney Karl Kadon, the FBI, ATF, Butler County Drug Task Force, and the Warren County Drug Task Force have been conducting an investigation into a drug trafficking ring in the Middletown area, police said.

MORE: More arrests expected in 6-month Middletown ‘drug ring’ investigation: What we know now

Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said the “drug ring” is believed to have a direct or indirect connection to the homicides of Teresa Shields, Benny Barefield, Kapriece Fuller and others.

Benwan Edwards of Middletown was taken into custody Monday morning by federal agents. More arrests are forthcoming, Muterspaw said. Guns, drugs and 20 vehicles were also confiscated as the search warrants were executed, police said.