Middletown police investigating drums of oil found in the city

Middletown police are investigating who was responsible for discarding five, 55-gallon drums of oil found in the city over the weekend.

Middletown fire Lt. Frank Baughman said three drums were located Friday and two more, which were dumped on Friday, were reported Sunday to the fire department. He said all the oil was contained and none reached the city’s storm drains.

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The Ohio EPA, Butler County Emergency Management Agency, Middletown firefighters and police officers responded to the scenes, Baughman said.

Matt Haverkos, director of the Butler County EMA, said the city’s public works department absorbed the oil with sand.

Drums of oil were located in an alley in the 4000 block of Shafor Street, 2000 block of Crescent Boulevard, in the 0 block of Franklin Street and two drums were located behind Auto Zone on Central Avenue, Baughman said.

He said all the drums were the same style and some were sealed with duct tape.

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