Tag Archive for: METRICH Enforcement Unit

Illustration: a prescription drug take-back drop box with pill bottles and a scale in a police lobby

FOSTORIA | Seneca County Turns In 174.5 Pounds of Old Medications in Fall Drug Take-Back

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Author: FFP Ai Bot

Illustration: a prescription drug take-back drop box with pill bottles and a scale in a police lobby

FOSTORIA, Ohio — Seneca County residents turned in 174.5 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications during the fall drug take-back on Oct. 24, part of more than half a ton collected across the 10-county METRICH region, the METRICH Enforcement Unit said in a news release.

Agencies throughout the region collected a combined 1,179.5 pounds of medications as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Take Back Initiative, according to the release, which was dated Oct. 26.

Seneca and Hancock county totals

In Seneca County, the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office collected 71.9 pounds, the Tiffin Police Department collected 59.6 pounds and the Fostoria Police Department collected 43 pounds, METRICH said.

In Hancock County, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office collected 84.4 pounds.

Totals across the METRICH region

METRICH reported these county totals:

  • Marion County — 188 pounds (Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Marion Police Department)
  • Ashland County — 182 pounds (Ashland County Sheriff’s Office)
  • Seneca County — 174.5 pounds
  • Morrow County — 116.4 pounds (Morrow County Sheriff’s Office)
  • Knox County — 112.5 pounds (Danville, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon police departments)
  • Crawford County — 109 pounds (Bucyrus and Galion police departments)
  • Wyandot County — 104.5 pounds (Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office and the Upper Sandusky and Carey police departments)
  • Hancock County — 84.4 pounds
  • Richland County — 56 pounds (Mansfield and Lexington police departments)
  • Huron County — 52.2 pounds (Norwalk Police Department)

The Richland County effort also involved Community Action for Capable Youth, the Richland County Solid Waste Authority, Richland Public Health and the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, according to the release.

“Community participation and commitment by all law enforcement agencies in the METRICH region was key to the success of this event,” the release said.

About METRICH

METRICH is a drug enforcement unit that covers Ashland, Crawford, Hancock, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot counties. Information about the unit and its news releases is posted on the METRICH Enforcement Unit website. The DEA lists year-round medication drop-off sites on its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day page.

From the METRICH Enforcement Unit news release (Oct. 26, 2026)

“The METRICH Enforcement Unit along with the Mansfield Division of Police, Lexington Police Department, Community Action for Capable Youth (CACY), Richland County Solid Waste Authority, Richland Public Health, and the Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board, participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Take Back Initiative.

In addition to Richland County law enforcement agencies, numerous other law enforcement agencies from the METRICH region also participated. The METRICH region collected over 1,179.5 pounds of unused or expired prescription/ medication.

Community participation and commitment by all law enforcement agencies in the METRICH region was key to the success of this event.”

Agency breakdown from the release: Mansfield PD 32 lbs.; Lexington PD 24 lbs.; Ashland County Sheriff’s Office 182 lbs.; Bucyrus PD 81 lbs.; Galion PD 28 lbs.; Hancock County Sheriff’s Office 84.4 lbs.; Norwalk PD 52.2 lbs.; Fredericktown PD 40.5 lbs.; Mt. Vernon PD 28.8 lbs.; Danville PD 43.2 lbs.; Marion County Sheriff’s Office / Marion PD 188 lbs.; Morrow County Sheriff’s Office 116.4 lbs.; Fostoria PD 43 lbs.; Tiffin PD 59.6 lbs.; Seneca County Sheriff’s Office 71.9 lbs.; Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office 59.6 lbs.; Upper Sandusky PD 23.4 lbs.; Carey PD 21.5 lbs.

— METRICH Enforcement Unit news release, as published by Richland Source. METRICH news releases are posted at metrich.com/news-releases.

Sources:
METRICH Enforcement Unit news release, Oct. 26, 2026, via Richland Source – https://www.richlandsource.com/2026/10/26/metrich-reports-multi-county-results-from-drug-take-back-event/
METRICH Enforcement Unit news releases – https://www.metrich.com/news-releases/
Mansfield News Journal / Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, Oct. 28, 2026 – https://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/story/news/local/2026/10/28/metrich-prescription-drug-take-back-collects-1179-pounds-north-central-ohio-richland-marion/92457287007/
DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day – https://www.dea.gov/takebackday

Fostoria News Stacks of cash and seized bags on a dark background with a police graphic.

MANSFIELD | 10 Indicted in METRICH Drug Roundup; 2 Still Sought

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Illustration: seized cash, a currency counter and evidence bags under police lights

Author: FFP Ai Bot

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Ten people indicted on drug trafficking charges were targeted in an Oct. 20 roundup in the Mansfield area, and two of them remain at large, the METRICH Enforcement Unit said in a news release issued Oct. 21.

METRICH carried out the operation with help from the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. The indictments came out of a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking around Mansfield, according to the release from Lt. Ryan Grimshaw, commander of the METRICH Enforcement Unit.

Linked to three men already jailed

METRICH said all 10 people are linked to Lamar Johnson, Rashad Keith and Cy Ison, who are being held in the Richland County Jail on drug-related charges.

Johnson and Keith were arrested in August after an investigation in which about two kilograms of cocaine were seized, the unit said. Both were charged with drug possession and complicity offenses. In September, METRICH seized $84,510 in connection with what it described as Ison’s suspected drug trafficking activities.

Search on Dawson Avenue

During the Oct. 20 roundup, task force members arrested Ryan Boyd at 86 Dawson Ave. in Mansfield. Officers reported seeing evidence of drug trafficking in plain view during the arrest, and METRICH investigators then obtained and executed a search warrant at the home.

Investigators seized crack cocaine, materials used to make crack cocaine, a currency-counting machine and $14,327 in cash, according to the release.

Who was indicted

METRICH identified the 10 people targeted in the operation and their charges as follows:

  • Ryan Boyd — cocaine trafficking and possession charges
  • Hendrick Bradley — cocaine trafficking and possession charges
  • Andrea Collier — cocaine trafficking and possession charges
  • Daquan Hilory — fentanyl trafficking and possession charges
  • Antonio Hobbs — cocaine trafficking and possession charges
  • Thomas Ison — fentanyl trafficking and possession charges
  • Torme Johnson — fentanyl trafficking and possession charges
  • Darius Jones — cocaine trafficking and possession charges
  • Jesse Laster — cocaine and fentanyl trafficking charges and a cocaine possession charge
  • Dewaun West-Mack — corrupting another with drugs and cocaine trafficking charges

All of those charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. METRICH said the investigation is ongoing.

Two still sought

Andrea Collier and Antonio Hobbs remained at large when the release was issued, and authorities urged them to turn themselves in. Anyone with information about where they are is asked to call the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) or the METRICH Enforcement Unit at 419-52CRIME (419-522-7463).

Why it matters here

METRICH is a 10-county drug enforcement unit that covers Ashland, Crawford, Hancock, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot counties, so the same unit that ran the Mansfield roundup also works drug cases in Seneca and Hancock counties. Tips about suspected drug activity can be submitted through the METRICH Enforcement Unit website. FFP found no public record connecting the Mansfield defendants to the federal case against Fostoria gym owner Epolito Rodriguez, which is being prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Toledo.

From the METRICH Enforcement Unit news release (Oct. 21, 2026)

“Collier and Hobbs are encouraged to surrender themselves to authorities. Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) or the METRICH Enforcement Unit at 419-52CRIME (419-522-7463).”

The release also states that this is an ongoing investigation and that all individuals charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

— METRICH Enforcement Unit, Lt. Ryan Grimshaw, commander. Release excerpt as quoted by WKYC and WOIO. METRICH news releases are posted at metrich.com/news-releases.

Sources:
METRICH Enforcement Unit news release, Oct. 21, 2026 – https://www.metrich.com/news-releases/
WKYC, Oct. 21, 2026 – https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/northeast-ohio/mansfield-drug-bust-10-indicted-on-drug-trafficking-charges-targeted-in-roundup-operation-2-remain-at-large-richland-county/95-131b1739-b94e-4e76-b564-3187c2a35984
Cleveland 19 (WOIO), Oct. 21, 2026 – https://www.cleveland19.com/2026/10/21/10-indicted-mansfield-drug-trafficking-investigation-2-remain-large/
Ashland County Pictures, Oct. 21, 2026 – https://ashlandcountypictures.com/metrich-drug-roundup-leads-to-mansfield-search-14327-seized/
Crawford County Now, Oct. 24, 2026 – https://crawfordcountynow.com/local/mansfield-drug-trafficking-roundup-leads-to-arrests-cash-and-drug-seizures/

© Copyright - The Fostoria Free Press LTD.
Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected.

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.
_

__

___

 

Powered By
Best Wordpress Adblock Detecting Plugin | CHP Adblock
error: Content is protected !!