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Hundreds of heroin capsules seized in West Carrollton raids

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By Lou Grieco, Staff Writer Updated 3:48 PM Monday, November 23, 2009

WEST CARROLLTON — Area law enforcement officers seized hundreds of capsules of heroin during two raids this weekend, one at a Moraine hotel and the other at a West Carrollton residence.

Detectives from the Tactical Crime Suppression Unit also seized $376,000 in cash from the West Carrollton home, said TCSU supervisor Lt. Tracy Harpster.

Harpster said law enforcement has seen an uptick in heroin busts in the last three years.

“There’s definitely been an increase in its use,” he said.

The TCSU, formed earlier this year, is designed to fight drugs in the Dayton’s south suburbs. It includes officers from West Carrollton, Oakwood, Centerville, Germantown, Miamisburg, Kettering, Moraine and Springboro. Harpster said the raids came from surveillance of drug dealers who were operating in several of those cities.

On Friday night, Nov. 20, undercover officers purchased heroin from Gary L. Sumlin, 34, at a room at the Super 8 on Dryden Road. Officers then obtained a search warrant and arrested Sumlin, Harpster said.

Officers found $3,000 in cash plus hundreds of heroin capsules and some cocaine in the room, Harpster said. While police collected evidence, drug users continued to arrive at the room looking for heroin, he said.

“Eight customers came knocking on the door while the police were there,” Harpster said.

Sumlin remained in the Montgomery County Jail on Sunday.

After that raid, officers had enough evidence to get a search warrant for an apartment at 2127 Sidneywood Drive, the home of Joesph Pattson, an “associate” of Sumlin, Harpster said.

At the apartment, they found more than 400 heroin capsules. The cash, found in shoe boxes, dresser drawers and suitcases, totaled about $376,000, Harpster said.

Police were still looking for Pattson, as well as Phyllis Boyd, who rented the apartment, on Sunday, Harpster said. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call police at 535-1166.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2057 or lgrieco@DaytonDailyNews.com.Begin text here.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2000 or flastname@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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