On March 7, 2014, at approximately 6:00 a.m., members of the MARMET Drug Task Force began briefing nearly 50 area law enforcement officers to conduct Operation “Take a Number”. Special response teams from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Marion City Police Department, Mansfield ASORT and Delaware Area Tactical Unit converged simultaneously on four area residences.  

All of today’s search warrants were a result of drug trafficking complaints from neighborhood residents. Heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and prescription pills were seized during these search warrants. There were no injuries to officers or to suspects.

MARMET supervisor Lt. Chris Adkins stated, “People living in these areas are just fed up with drug dealers in their neighborhoods, and they are becoming very proactive in their tips to law enforcement.”  

Four people were arrested on drug-related charges from today’s operation:

35 year old Deon Gale of 539 Jefferson Ave. (Trafficking In Drugs), 33 year old Allen Creagh of 464 Ballentine Ave. (Trafficking In Drugs), 29 year old Shalon Ford of 1090 N. Main St. (Trafficking In Drugs), and 35 year old Michael Prather of 464 Ballentine Ave. (Permitting Drug Abuse). 

As always, anyone with information about suspected drug activity is urged to contact the Marion Tips Line at: (740) 375-TIPS (8477).