

Michaela Sumner
Newark Advocate
Members of local law enforcement gather outside a Newark home after forcing entry by the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Local law enforcement entered the home after receiving several citizens complaints and conducting an investigation.

NEWARK - Local law enforcement showed their efforts to tackle drug activity while executing a search warrant recently.

Jesse G. Smith, 31, of 210 Isabelle Road, Newark, was arrested on a child support warrant after police forced entry into his home on April 23.

The tactical entry was a result of a collaboration between the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force, Newark police, Licking County Sheriff's Office, and Newark police's Special Operation Group. A Newark fire medic was also on scene.

The Advocate rode with Newark Police Chief Barry Connell as the events unfolded in about 45 minutes. Once on scene, law enforcement used battering rams to force entry into the front door of 210 Isabelle Road, then used flash bangs, or concussion devices, used to distract people while they entered the home.

According to Connell, local law enforcement received numerous complaints of drug-related activity in the area.

"Not only do we get information about who might be dealing, but we get neighborhood complaints that say there's a lot of traffic in the area different hours of the night, things that appear to be drug deals that are happening within view, and generally, the neighborhood pretty much gets fed up with particular locations that are involved in this," Connell explained.

CODE Task Force Commander Lt. Paul Cortright said his team had been investigating the complaints for several weeks.

Connell said there's likely a large number of citizens who think when they fill out a complaint on the website or call them, they don't care and are letting it happen.

"The only way to make a good investigation and a good criminal case is to spend the time and do it right," he said. "You're looking at a big expense here today. This is a lot of resources that we've (used here)."

Connell said it can sometimes take a long time to put an investigation together. Cortright agreed, saying sometimes it's multi-level, requiring enough to get a search warrant.

According to Cortright, CODE considers many factors when executing search warrants, including the safety of any people in the surrounding areas.

Newark police Deputy Chief Darrin Logan said law enforcement recovered two handguns and several grams of suspected heroin on April 23. Additional charges are pending, he added.