Chief touts public’s help as 28 indicted on Middletown drug charges

More cooperation from community members and more coordination among law enforcement agencies helped lead to indictments of 28 people suspected in drug activity in Middletown, according to police.

Middletown Lt. Jimmy Cunningham said about 12 of those indicted were arrested on Thursday when the sweep began about 8 a.m.

“We want to make it exceedingly difficult to sell drugs in Middletown,” Cunningham said, adding he believed many people will recognize some indicted as those residents suspected of selling drugs in their neighborhood.

MORE: Middletown police join Butler County’s specialized drug task force

“Just because you may not see anything happen when you call in doesn’t mean we aren’t doing anything,” Cunningham said.

Officers are working to build felony cases that will have the most impact on those convicted, Cunningham said.

Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said recent coordination between his agency and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office have paid dividends.

The chief said the indictments came because of the investigative work of the Middletown Police Special Investigations Unit and the Butler County Regional Task Force (BURN).

“The results are the compilation of months of work based on complaints from the community who stepped up and reported drug activity to the police department,” Muterspaw said, noting Butler County Probation also assisted in this indictment sweep.

MORE: Local pharmacy robbery suspects face federal indictment

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said, “We are excited to be a part of this drug arrest round-up with the City of Middletown. It is imperative that agencies work together to get these drug dealers off our streets and out of our communities.”

In March, Muterspaw and the sheriff announced the combined effort between departments. The chief then indicated that regionalization of resources is key in the fight against the heroin epidemic.

“We are really happy with the hard work and effort by the Special Operations and BURN teams, but without our community speaking out against drug dealers, we wouldn’t be able to do this. More is coming, I promise you that,” Muterspaw said.

Those indicted were being rounded up by police, and some might not be apprehended yet. If you know any of the suspects or have information about them, contact Sgt. Jamie Wilcox at 513-425-7749.

MORE: Fairfield’s ‘Baby D’ and 2 Mason men indicted on narcotics conspiracy

Those indicted are:

Walter Lumpkin of Hamilton – trafficking in Heroin

Donald Otis of Middletown – possession of Heroin/fentanyl

Ashley Banks of Middletown – aggravated trafficking in drugs

Jason Cundiff of Middletown - aggravated trafficking in drugs

Steven Eldridge of Middletown – weapons under disability

Heather Trent of Middletown -aggravated possession of drugs

Joseph Morgan of Middletown - aggravated possession of heroin

Dustin Hall of Oxford - aggravated trafficking and possession of drugs

Julius Pruitte of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs

Raymond Jones of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs

Jonathon Halsey of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine/firearms

Bobby Mathews of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine

Bailey Joseph of Trenton - aggravated possession of heroin

Megan Carr of Middletown -aggravated possession of drugs

Stacy Sharp of Middletown – aggravated possession of heroin

Henry Crowe of Middletown – trafficking in drugs

Kenneth Sorrell of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine

Rachael Bunch of Madison Twp. - possession of drugs methamphetamine

Jacob Harpe of Hamilton - aggravated trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs

Michael Minton of Middletown - aggravated possession of drugs methamphetamine

Cianti Trammel of Middletown - aggravated trafficking in heroin and possession of heroin

Ronald Brewer of Somerville - aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drugs

Rodney Washington of Hamilton - trafficking in cocaine

Hilliard Chappell III of Cincinnati - trafficking in heroin

Yontay Samples of Hamilton - trafficking in heroin

Cheyne Carpenter of Hamilton - trafficking in drugs

Steven Sparks of Fairfield – aggravated trafficking in drugs

Stephen Baker of Hamilton – aggravated trafficking in drugs and trafficking in heroin

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