Local law enforcement officials are taking a hard line against those who allow others to overdose on drugs.
“Tragically, people die from an overdose of illicit narcotics,” Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said. “Many of these deaths are preventable if immediate help is sought. The Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement (M.A.D.E.) Task Force and my office will hold accountable those responsible for these needless deaths.”
As part of that pledge, the task force and Phillips’ office secured indictments against 16 individuals.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton said the indictments are part of a 10-month investigation.
“These indictments are the result of the continuing commitment by the task force agencies to fully investigate drug trafficking offenses within Union County,” Patton wrote in a release announcing the indictments.
He said part of the investigation targeted individuals who had an alleged, “role in drug overdose death investigations and drug overdose incidents where there was no death but substantial harm was sustained.”
In the release, Marysville Police Chief Floyd Golden said medical intervention was possible to save the lives in the cases presented to grand jury.
“However, with the choices made, now the individual is looking at serving several years in prison,” Golden said.
The grand jury indicted:
– Brandon Gunner Redd, 26, of 21610 Shirk Road, Marysville. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another with drugs, possessing criminal tools, possession of heroin and possession of cocaine.
According to court documents, Redd allegedly helped arrange the purchase and use of heroin and crack cocaine which resulted in the death of a 21-year old female in the 21000 block of Shirk Road.
-Wendy Bickley, 34, of 11480 U.S. 36, New Dover Estates, Lot 120. Bickley is charged with tampering with evidence, deception to obtain a dangerous drug, aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in drugs.
According to court documents, Bickley allegedly stole her husband’s prescription Hydrocodone and had it filled at a pharmacy. While she was allegedly getting the prescription filled, her husband was in a hospital suffering from “symptoms related to a drug overdose” involving a mixture of fentanyl and diazepam. Prosecutors said the husband later died of the overdose.
-Patric Blake Scheiderer, 22, of 223 Buerger St., Marysville, and Cody A. Coleman, 23, of 56602 County Road 146, Zanesfield. Both men are charged with corrupting another with drugs, trafficking in heroin, possession of heroin and possessing criminal tools. According to court documents, Scheiderer and Coleman allegedly supplied drugs to an individual who eventually needed to be transported to the hospital. Prosecutors said the individual is, “still suffering from life-altering complications from the drug overdose.”
-Victoria Long, 25, of 10220 U.S. Route 42, Marysville. Long is charged with involuntary manslaughter, failure to report a crime, permitting drug abuse and trafficking in drugs. According to court documents, Long’s roommate took heroin, fentanyl and alprazolam. Long then allegedly watched as the roommate overdosed on the drugs. Long did not call for help and eventually the roommate died in the area of 925 W. Fifth St.
– Austin Hart, 23, of Milford Center, whose court-listed address is the Tri-County Regional Jail. Hart is charged with corrupting another with drugs, trafficking in heroin and possession of heroin. Hart allegedly supplied heroin to someone who overdosed. According to court documents, the victim, “had to receive lifesaving treatment from EMS units while being transported to a hospital.”
Golden says there is no reason for someone not to call for emergency help if they see someone overdose. He encouraged any friend, family member or anyone else witnessing a drug overdose to call 911.
“There is an immunity law in place for individuals seeking medical intervention for an individual experiencing an overdose,” Golden said. “The purpose of the law is designed to give immunity to the caller and the person experiencing the overdose, so the person’s life can be saved. It is not designed for law enforcement to file criminal charges against the caller.”
Detective Mike Justice with the Union County Sheriff’s Office said some of the investigations associated with the operation were complex and started, “in a variety of ways.”
As a result, in addition to the overdose-related charges, the investigation led to a series of indictments not related to anyone’s death or overdose.
Also indicted was:
-Angelica Dawn Stevenson, 25, of The Buckeye House, W. Fifth St., Marysville.
-Mark Bright, 54, of 1746 Neel Road, Richwood.
-Nicholas Monnin, 26, whose court-listed address is the Tri-County Regional Jail.
-Justin Lendl Leasure, 34, of 925 W. Fifth St., Marysville.
-Jason Allen Isaacs, 31, of 11480 U.S. 35, Lot 47, Marysville.
-Travis Lively, 26, of 9150 Warner Road, Plain City.
-Aerial Nicole May, 30, of 49 W. Ninth St., Marysville.
-Steffanie D. Reiss, 34, of 49 W. Ninth St., Marysville.
-Bryan Beverly, 32, whose last known address is 218 ½ W. Fourth St., Marysville.
-Jeffrey Scott Neal Blake, 27, of 271 Tulip Dr., Marysville.
Indictments against those individuals included a variety drug-related charges including possession of heroin, trafficking in heroin, possessing criminal tools, aggravated possession of drugs, aggravated trafficking in drugs, possession of cocaine, trafficking in cocaine and/or deception to obtain a dangerous drug.
Patton said the task force was formed with these types of drug investigations in mind.
“The officers assigned to the task force specialize in all aspects of drug investigations which are shown from the charges filed,” Patton said in a release announcing the indictments.
The task force members include the Marysville Police Department, Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The task force was assisted by the Union County Coroner’s Office.
“Many times there is not a single source of supply, and the drug investigations overlap both the county and city’s jurisdiction,” Patton wrote in the release. “So, to combat the drug issues, it takes everyone working together.”