A break in at a local pharmacy may have put more drugs on the street.

Sunday, February 17, 2002

A break in at a local pharmacy may have put more drugs on the street.

Capt. Chris Bowman, a detective with the Ironton Police Department, said the CVS pharmacy located at the Ironton Hills Plaza broken into sometime early Saturday morning.

Bowman said the suspects disabled the store’s security alarm and took a large amount of drugs, including Schedule II-V pain medications. Some of the drugs the thieves took included OxyContin, Valium, Xanax, Lortab and Lorabid.

Bowman said the theft remains under investigation and the police are looking for information regarding the crime. Bowman said anyone with information should contact the police department.

Earlier this week, two eastern Lawrence County men were arrested on multiple drug-related felony counts.

On Wednesday, Lawrence County Sheriff Tim Sexton said, William F. Medley, 53, of 51 Private Drive 3030, Chesapeake, and Jeffrey S. Fuller, 34, of 21488 State Route 243, Proctorville, were arrested for trafficking prescription medications. Both were allegedly trafficking OxyContin and Dilaudid.

The arrests came after the grand jury returned secret indictments. The investigation that led to the arrest was conducted by the Lawrence Drug Task Force, Ironton Police Department, and the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s office.

Sexton said, "these arrests are just a part of the commitment to fight against drug traffickers and to continue a serious effort to make our neighborhoods and schools safer for Lawrence County residents."

On the street, Bowman said, OxyContin is typically crushed and snorted, or crushed and injected. Bowman said OxyContin is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the area and is abused by people of all ages.

Sexton, who also serves as the drug task force director, added that the task force hopes to reap the financial rewards of catching drug traffickers.

"The drug task force will continue their cooperation with the Prosecutor’s Office in seeking assistance in claiming drug proceeds such as cash, real property, and vehicles through court criminal and civil forfeiture actions," he said.

He added, "not only will we hope to send a clearer message that ‘crime does not pay,’ but the proceeds of seizures are used to aid law enforcement efforts such as undercover drug investigations."

Both Medley and Fuller have been arraigned in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court and remain in the county jail.

In 2001, the drug task force charged over 70 people with felony and misdemeanor drug trafficking and, or, possession charges.

Almost two months into this year, the task force has secured nine felony arrests in drug-related cases, recovering nearly $15,000 in cash.