Pickaway County Sheriff Admits Drug Problem In County
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio— A drug bust of heroin dealers on Thursday highlights a growing problem in Central Ohio that is taking over even the smallest towns.
Operation Clean Sweep netted 12 arrests, including a 14-year-old girl.
Since the investigation began five months ago, police have made a total of 48 arrests with more than 70 felony charges.
Pickaway County residents are glad to hear of the drug ring busts, but still say there should be more done.
“Three people in Circleville have overdosed on drugs in the past month”, said one resident.
NBC 4 wanted to know if the sheriff’s office in Pickaway County is as concerned about the drug trade as the individual police departments are and what they’re doing to combat the problem.
Pickaway County Sheriff Dwight Radcliff said during a phone interview with NBC 4 that his agency is doing all it can to cut down on the problem.
“These investigations take some time. These aren’t the kind of investigations that you go out and make massive arrests,“ said Pickaway County Lt. Robert Radcliff. “Well, go to Franklin County. They have a problem in Franklin County. Check any county, I think you’re going to find a problem across the nation. I don’t think Pickaway is unique compared to any other county.“
The sheriff’s office said heroin isn’t just a county problem—it’s a state and national problem, too.
Lt. Robert Radcliff said a lot of drugs that come into rural areas are from Franklin County, and affirmed that his agency will work hard to cut down on drugs in the county.
Officials said they will work with Franklin County, Columbus police and the U.S. 23 Pipeline Task Force to combat drug trafficking.
“We are concerned about the young people we had yesterday. We had as many 50-year-olds as we did 18-year-olds,“ said Circleville police Chief Harold Gray.
Out of all of the arrests in Pickaway County, only two people have bonded out.
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Reader Reactions
Correct on voters. Unfortunately, unless a judge is extremely bad, there is to much drop off at the judicial level.
Judges serve for six years. An incompetent or corrupt judge can cause tremendous damage, especially in smaller counties where there is only one judge and attorneys earn their living before that only judge.
A judge, if he or she desires, can crucify a party, even when the party has counsel.
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watchdog
23 May 2009 Sat 11:07
... Magistrates, Judges, and Prosecutors ... a problem with their service, then we need to show it at the voters booths.
watchdog ... Are you for real ?? Ashville at best got a few hundred TOTAL in Herion off the streets NO BULK amounts. All they did was fill jail space with addicts and crowd the court dockets with addicts .. This has never solved any communties drug problems and never will. The people in Ashville should be embarrssed about the way this was handled and the tax dollars spent to lock up an addict rather then semt them to treatment.
As far as the Sheriff, Magistrates, Judges, and Prosecutors, they are in their offices because we the people put them there. If we have a problem with their service, then we need to show it at the voters booths. Remember, the wealthy and well known people in the county only make up a small portion of the vote, it’s the “little people” votes that make up the majority.
I would like to know where the U.S.23 interdiction funds are being spent by the PCSO and Circleville PD, they sure aren’t getting any bulk narcotics on U.S.23 or S.R. 104, yet smaller agencies like Ashville and South Bloomfield are pulling bulk loads of drugs with NO FUNDING. The narcotics and addiction issues have been addressed by these smaller agencies for years and have apparently fallen on deaf ears. What did everybody think was going to happen with a county on the border of the capital city? What is OSP and PCSO doing to stop the pipeline of these drugs to our communities? The addiction starts with supply, and if the smaller agencies are able to combat it with minimal manning and funding, what is the Sherrif’s excuse? Maybe the smaller agencies should be given some of that interdiction funding since they seem to be the only ones getting the bulk loads and intelligence, and oh yeah, sharing the information.
If FACTS EXIT TO support a conclusion that a judge or magistrate has violated rules a judge is required to follow, there is a forum to handle the problem.
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http://sc.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/government/GOVJUD.pdf
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Lori14 22 May 2009 Fri 17:38
“.... But until someone who has the power to look into the Pickaway County Court Systems ... dirty magistrates and judges will continue to rule our County. They don’t care what you do, they just care who you belong to.“
Yep again ONLy poor people went to jail in Pickaway County .. In Ashville you have to wonder who got busted first and snitched first to get the better deal if they even got arrested. Almost sounds like an election year go out and bust a bunch of poor addicts and put them in jail and let them out again in months only to have them still poor and without TREATMENT for the ADDICTION .. Someone needs to wake up. Putting poor low income addicts in jail only shows arrest ststs for police
It does no good. Those that make big money off drugs and spend big money on drugs in Ashville and Pickaway County are still out there ... Anyone have an answer as to why ????
Bodie sure did say alot. This whole “drug Bust” is a joke. If this was real there would have been at least 50 more people in Ashville arrested. And come on,lets get real and admit that heroin isn’t the only drug infesting our town. (or have they forgot about all the crack heads that live in those apartments on Miller?) I think its GREAT that we have a new Chief in town. (he’s very needed) But until someone who has the power to look into the Pickaway County Court Systems and the Pickaway County Sheriffs Department the sad truth of drugs and worthless addicts and dirty magistrates and judges will continue to rule our County. They don’t care what you do, they just care who you belong to.
I’m surprised that the sheriff’s comments didn’t include a pitch for more money, to “combat” the “problem”.
themselves….thereselves….youselfz….hiselfz….it all iz da zame ting mahn.
I love comments.
Oooo…it’s almost 5:00, the news makes my day go by so much quicker.
this is probably what half the PD does instead of planning a real sweep.
oh well…...i didn’t know we were getting graded on here. NE wayz, the po-po keeps tryN 2 feel like they accomplished something when all they did was fill a room up with addicts. Hmmm…how freakin’ lame.
Spell check that luvmykiddos, oh & i have a ton of otha comments on here 2 while yo bored u can check them 2.
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