Authorities Arrest 10 In Operation Busted Balloon

ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio—Authorities arrested 10 suspects Wednesday in a sweep operation called Operation Busted Balloon.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

The Athens County sheriff’s office, in concert with Ohio State Highway Patrol; Ohio Department of Public Safety; Columbus police; the Hocking County sheriff’s office; and local agencies, conducted Operation Busted Balloon, which targeted the flow of heroin coming into the Athens and Hocking County areas.

The Athens County sheriff’s office narcotics unit arrested the following people for trafficking in heroin and other illegal drugs according to an official report:
- Christopher Clark, 19. Clark was an escapee from the Morgan County Jail.
- Dustin Stickels, 28, was arrested on a warrant for unlawful sex with a minor
- Raliegh Robinson, 33, was arrested on a probation violation.
- Carol Christman, 27, was arrested on a warrant for trafficking.
- Melinda Dunlevy, 43, was arrested on a warrant for drug trafficking (heroin).
- Shawn Berry, 34, was arrested on a previous warrant.
- John Chesser, 34, was arrested on a probation violation and allegedly was in possession of heroin.
- Mark Barnhart, 47, was arrested on a probation violation.
- Frank Christman, 57, was arrested for allegedly trafficking drugs (heroin).
- Nicholas Helsel, 25, was arrested on a previous warrant.

The suspects remained in police custody Thursday.

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