A conviction for trafficking drugs can carry very serious consequences, and Ohio residents who have been accused of drug trafficking need to be aware of their rights. Police do not always follow the rules in drug investigations, so people who are facing drug charges will need a strong criminal defense to bring up in court any irregularities or improprieties the police may have committed.
These issues are likely on the minds of two Cleveland men who were recently arrested and charged with trafficking heroin in Medina. The 23-year-old and the 32-year-old were apparently the subject of an undercover investigation carried out by the Medina County Drug Task Force.
Police in Cleveland had already issued warrants for the younger of the suspects. He was wanted on other charges related to dangerous drugs and contempt of court.
An official with the Medina police department indicated that “concerned citizens” filed complaints that spurred the undercover investigation. Exactly what these complaints entailed was not specified in a local news report, nor were the circumstances of the arrested described in any detail. Both men were taken to the Medina County Jail, and authorities said that additional charges may be on the way.
When a person is charged with a drug crime, it is important to analyze the circumstances of the arrest. Did police have probable cause to conduct a search and seizure? If witnesses gave statements, are those statements reliable? If two people were arrested at the same time on the same charges, have both parties been fairly charged?
These issues and more demand a close examination in any criminal defense that seeks a reduction or dismissal of charges.
Source: NewsNet5.com, “Two Cleveland men charged with trafficking heroin in Medina,” Jen Steer, Sept. 21, 2012