CENTRAL OHIO -- More than a dozen suspects were arrested on drug trafficking charges Thursday morning.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
The Franklin County sheriff's office initiated investigations in the Worthington and north metropolitan areas of Franklin County.
The investigations resulted in securing multiple arrest warrants for individuals allegedly trafficking heroin and other dangerous drugs.
Worthington police and the U.S. Marshal’s office assisted the sheriff’s office’s special investigations unit in the arrests.
Authorities began the sweep at 6 a.m. Thursday and made the following 13 arrests:
- Joshua Ackert of Franklin County
- Anders Berner of Franklin County
- Jennifer Bootes of Worthington
- Jan Michael Byers of Franklin County
- Russell Conlon of Franklin County
- Adam Cullimore of Franklin County
- Carlos deLaSerda of Worthington
- Eric Gelin of Worthington
- Kyle Heller of Worthington
- Jason Huffer of Franklin County
- Sumyr Phillips of Worthington
- Shane Smelzter of Franklin County
- Braden Tizzano of Franklin County
Apparently, most of the arrests were of young people, ages 18 to 25 years old who still were living with their parents, according to authorities.
Authorities said many of the transactions in Worthington happened in the parking lot of the Worthington Mall.
Thea Phillips’ daughter Sumyr Phillips was arrested, but Thea said her daughter is innocent.
“I was in shock. I was surprised … because Sumyr doesn’t do drugs. As far as I know, she doesn’t do drugs. I just think she was with the wrong crowd,” Thea said.
Worthington police said heroin use and trafficking is a serious problem in the city.
Police said heroin is the drug of choice for young people because it’s cheap and easy to get.
The arrest warrants were the beginning of an ongoing endeavor to seek out those trafficking in serious addictive drugs and bring those individuals before a court of law.
Nineteen warrants were served, and authorities continued to search for six other suspects.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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