On August 12th and 13th the Summit County Sheriff’s Office participated in the State of Ohio’s program entitled Operation Blue Light. This was a state wide coordinated effort
to have a high number of law enforcement personnel in designated areas in cooperation with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, Ohio (Drug) Task Force Commanders Association, Ohio Department of Public Safety and local authorities participating within the state.
This program, funded through grant monies for a safer Ohio, put more cruisers on roadways, including previously identified drug corridor areas. This was an effort to enhance traffic safety, reduce crashes, and deter criminal activity including the transportation of illicit narcotics. Due to these monies, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office was able to place specially trained and highly experienced patrol deputies and detectives in this 2 day assignment.
During this period, Summit County Sheriff’s Deputies interacted with over three hundred motorists. Along with traffic citations, warnings and motorist assistance, forty-six people were arrested, with thirty-four of these being for various felony charges, including firearms and narcotics violations, and active warrants on file for their arrest. 3 firearms and several types of suspected narcotics (including methamphetamines, marijuana and Ecstasy) were seized by the sheriff’s personnel.
These statewide efforts netted over 300 persons arrested, 40 weapons (possessed or carried illegally) taken off the streets, with thousands of grams of suspected cocaine, crack, fentanyl, heroin and other narcotics seized in just this two day blitz period.
Questions about this Press Release can be directed to Lt. Mike Lowe. 330 643-2170
