“We want to make it exceedingly difficult to sell drugs in Middletown,” Cunningham said, adding he believed many people will recognize some indicted as those residents suspected of selling drugs in their neighborhood.
MORE: Middletown police join Butler County’s specialized drug task force
“Just because you may not see anything happen when you call in doesn’t mean we aren’t doing anything,” Cunningham said.
Officers are working to build felony cases that will have the most impact on those convicted, Cunningham said.
Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said recent coordination between his agency and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office have paid dividends.
The chief said the indictments came because of the investigative work of the Middletown Police Special Investigations Unit and the Butler County Regional Task Force (BURN).
“The results are the compilation of months of work based on complaints from the community who stepped up and reported drug activity to the police department,” Muterspaw said, noting Butler County Probation also assisted in this indictment sweep.
MORE: Local pharmacy robbery suspects face federal indictment
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said, “We are excited to be a part of this drug arrest round-up with the City of Middletown. It is imperative that agencies work together to get these drug dealers off our streets and out of our communities.”
In March, Muterspaw and the sheriff announced the combined effort between departments. The chief then indicated that regionalization of resources is key in the fight against the heroin epidemic.
“We are really happy with the hard work and effort by the Special Operations and BURN teams, but without our community speaking out against drug dealers, we wouldn’t be able to do this. More is coming, I promise you that,” Muterspaw said.
Those indicted were being rounded up by police, and some might not be apprehended yet. If you know any of the suspects or have information about them, contact Sgt. Jamie Wilcox at 513-425-7749.
MORE: Fairfield’s ‘Baby D’ and 2 Mason men indicted on narcotics conspiracy
Those indicted are:
Walter Lumpkin of Hamilton – trafficking in Heroin
Donald Otis of Middletown – possession of Heroin/fentanyl
Ashley Banks of Middletown – aggravated trafficking in drugs
Jason Cundiff of Middletown - aggravated trafficking in drugs
Steven Eldridge of Middletown – weapons under disability
Heather Trent of Middletown -aggravated possession of drugs
Joseph Morgan of Middletown - aggravated possession of heroin
Dustin Hall of Oxford - aggravated trafficking and possession of drugs
Julius Pruitte of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs
Raymond Jones of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs
Jonathon Halsey of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine/firearms
Bobby Mathews of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine
Bailey Joseph of Trenton - aggravated possession of heroin
Megan Carr of Middletown -aggravated possession of drugs
Stacy Sharp of Middletown – aggravated possession of heroin
Henry Crowe of Middletown – trafficking in drugs
Kenneth Sorrell of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine
Rachael Bunch of Madison Twp. - possession of drugs methamphetamine
Jacob Harpe of Hamilton - aggravated trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs
Michael Minton of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine
Cianti Trammel of Middletown - aggravated trafficking in heroin and possession of heroin
Ronald Brewer of Somerville - aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drugs
Rodney Washington of Hamilton - trafficking in cocaine
Hilliard Chappell III of Cincinnati - trafficking in heroin
Yontay Samples of Hamilton - trafficking in heroin
Cheyne Carpenter of Hamilton - trafficking in drugs
Steven Sparks of Fairfield – aggravated trafficking in drugs
Stephen Baker of Hamilton – aggravated trafficking in drugs and trafficking in heroin
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