Journal-News.com

Oxford's Drug and Alcohol Enforcement Unit was busy over the weekend, seizing two pounds of marijuana, approximately $6,000 in cash and several dozen pieces of drug paraphernalia during a series of drug busts.

Sgt. Jim Squance attributed the onslaught of drug arrests to the department's unyielding drive to combat substance abuse in Oxford.

"We created this special unit as part of our commitment to drug and alcohol enforcement," Squance said. "Our officers have done a great job of investigating and apprehending people who use, deal or are in any way involved with drugs in Oxford. There doesn't seem to be a lack of work for them."

Nine subjects were arrested in connection with three separate raids, at least four of whom were Miami University students. In addition to drugs, cash and paraphernalia, officers confiscated syringes, bullets, a video camera and several other items potentially linked to illegal activity.

While the string of recent arrests seems indicative of a growing problem for the area, Squance said it's nothing new for Oxford.

"Substance abuse in Oxford has always been a problem," he said. "In light of some recent tragedies we've had involving the over-consumption of alcohol, I think we may just be uncovering the extent of the illegal use of drugs and alcohol in town."

Police first got to work at 2 a.m. on Jan. 14, executing a search warrant at 409 Lincoln Street. Five different subjects were arrested at the residence, where a total of 16 pipes, four metal grinders and at least two containers containing suspected marijuana were recovered.

Residents Joseph Even, 19, Christopher Frey, 22, and Shawn Snyder, 20, were taken into custody along with Benjamin Bruns, 19, 3033 Contreras Road, West College Corner, Ind., and Timothy Payne, 20, 3681 Oxford-Reily Road. All subjects were issued citations for drug paraphernalia and drug abuse. Additionally, Even was charged with two counts of trafficking in drugs, tampering with evidence and child endangering, Frey was charged with two counts of possession of Adderall, Snyder was charged with possession of Percocet and Bruns was cited for certain acts prohibited and obstruction of official business.

The arrest count kept rolling when officers searched 210 N. Main St. Apt. 4 several hours after the first bust. Miami University students Martin Shea, 19, and Rory Ward, 20, were arrested after officers found a large amount of cash, a video camera, three bags of marijuana, alcohol, a digital scale and several pipes in the residence. Shea was charged with drug paraphernalia, possession of Adderall and two counts of trafficking in drugs, while Ward was issued a citation for underage possession of alcohol.

The final bust came on Jan. 17, when police uncovered a sizable amount of marijuana at 131 W. Spring St. Police arrested 20-year-old Miami University students Aleksey Sytnik and Joel O'Connor, charging Sytnik with trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and citing O'Connor for drug paraphernalia.

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139, ext. 86102, or at rgauthier@coxohio.com.