Rich, 51, was taken into custody, Detective Andy Parish told News Center 7's Kate Bartley, and the a nuisance abatement order on the business is awaiting a judge's decision.
"We believe we've uncovered a scheme of known individuals, groups of individuals, specifically those into drugs, specifically heroin, who bring items to this property to receive a sum of money in order to support their habits," Parish said. That property includes electronic items, sporting goods and other "high-dollar items."
Parish said the police action is part of an 18-month-long investigation involving the receipt of stolen property at the pawn shop. Property has been traced to a large number of individuals from Franklin, Middletown and other areas south, he said.
"All of this relates back to drugs, my opinion," the detective said. People from outside the county are coming into the community where they are stealing property, he said.
Quick Facts:
- According to Parish, individuals would steal from stores, return them for gift cards or store credits, or take the items to Moraine City Pawn. There, the items would be bought off the individual for low prices. The individual would use the money to buy drugs -- specifically heroin.
- Rich was arrested when officers found stolen property in his residence Wednesday night, Parish said. One of those items is a guitar.
- Rich, Parish said, "is ultimately responsible. He is the one who is making the decision to buy property from these individuals."
- Wednesday night, Rich was in the Montgomery County Jail on misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property and obstructing official business. Total bond was set at $1,750 on the two charges.
- More arrests are expected in what Parish is calling an ongoing investigation.
- The investigation began with "tips on the street about items being brought to the shop."
- In April, an executed search warrant at the shop turned up goods believed to have been stolen, Parish said.
- Recently, daily checks of the shop's buy records led police to some of the same individuals who have been repeatedly bringing retail items and gift cards to the shop. All of them have criminal histories that involve drug use and/or drug abuse, Parish said.
EARLIER: Police and undercover officers are conducting a raid at Moraine City Pawn.
Officers arrived just before 6 p.m. and entered the shop at 4725 Springboro Pike.
They have taken cell phones believed to belong to the owner and his wife. Officers also were seen checking vehicles believed to belong to the owner and his wife.
The officers have not told us why they are at the business, but they put up crime scene tape around the building as they continued their investigation.
The owner, who refused to give his name, tells us this is the third time the business has been raided. He also said police won't tell him what they're looking for.
We have a crew on scene and we'll update this story as we get details.
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