Clark County Sheriff’s Office arrest 3 after raid finds guns, drugs

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A two-month investigation into narcotics trafficking ended with three suspects in custody and the confiscation of guns, drugs and body armor, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Mahdi Channels, 22, Isiaah Channels 24, and Citalli Rosales, 20, all were arrested after the sheriff’s office raided an apartment at Belmont Apartments on East High Street near South Belmont Avenue in Springfield. The sheriff’s deputies found 2.2 ounces of cocaine, legally more than personal use, two stolen guns, knives and body armor.

The suspects are being held in the Clark County Jail, but have not been officially charged.

MORE: These 19 people were indicted with felonies in Clark County court

“This has been about a two-month investigation into narcotics trafficking,” said Clark County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Christopher Clarke “Undercover narcotics officers have witnessed a lot of activity. There’s been some controlled activity that we participated in. Through the course of the investigation, we obtained enough evidence to obtain a search warrant.”

The sheriff’s office also found a 2-year-old in the home, Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett said.

“There were some weapons just sitting around the area,” the sheriff said. “It’s very dangerous with that child running around. A 2-year-old can pick them up at any time and that’s why children services were called to the scene.”

Clark said the search warrant team began at around 7:40 Tuesday morning. He said the team utilized a remote control robot to enter the home first and scout out the area. The robot was obtained by the sheriff’s office using the Defense Logistics Agency — a federal program that allows the defense department to give their property that might otherwise be destroyed to local law enforcement.

The tactical robot helped secure the scene before deputies entered the home.

“I can’t say enough how this program is,” Clark said. “It’s made our job a lot safer.”

Once the scene was secured and deputies entered the home, Pablo, a Belgian Malinois with the sheriff’s K-9 unit searched the scene and was able to detect both the drugs and guns.

LOCAL CRIME: Man arrested after leading Clark County deputies on chase

“He gave us indicators,” Clark said. “There were firearms right there too. These drugs probably have been in contact with the guns so he was able to alert to them as well.”

Burchett said drug crimes are still a top priority for her office.

“When I took over drugs was one of the main things I wanted to work on,” she said. “I am constantly in touch with our drug unit, seeing what they’re doing and buying and they have been doing a very good job.”

And Burchett said the arrest should serve as a warning to drug dealers in Clark County.

“We’re coming after you. That’s what I would tell them,” Burchett said. “We’re not going to give up and we are going to get you. Whatever we have to do we will do it.”

About the Author