The Marion Police Department announced Wednesday that, with the help of multiple law enforcement agencies, they had arrested the alleged supplier of a deadly heroin brand that has claimed 5 lives and over 50 overdoes in recent weeks.
On June 10, 2015 at approximately 7:30 AM, nearly 60 law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies converged on three locations within the City of Marion. Search warrants were executed at 546 Toledo Avenue, 296 Waterloo Avenue and 258 ½ Leader Street.
As a result of these raids nearly 1 Kilo of Blue Drop Heroin, colored dye, drug press and over $50,000 dollars in cash was seized as well as a loaded firearm.
Since April 15, 2015, officials report that Marion has experienced a total of 56 heroin related overdoses resulting in 5 deaths. Marion Police Department’s Chief Bill Collins said that along with the unprecedented number of overdoses came an unprecedented investigation that was completed in less than 14 days. Collins said that on May 28, 2015 the City of Marion reached out to State and Federal agencies asking for assistance with this overdose epidemic. The Attorney General responded as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration to put together a task force that worked with the local MARMET/METRICH Drug task force to coordinate this investigation.
As a result of this joint investigation, Collins said that Marion’s main supplier of Blue Drop Heroin was arrested and formal charges are pending with the United States Attorney’s Office in Toledo, Ohio. Eric Creagh, 32, of 296 Waterloo Street, Marion, is being held on felony Possession with Intent to Distribute and Felony Federal Firearm related charges.
A search warrant was also executed by the Marion Police Department’s Special Response Team at 258 ½ Leader Street in Marion. This location was the site of at least 3 overdose calls in the last several days. Several users of Blue Drop Heroin were located and arrested at this location and are currently incarcerated at the Multi-County Correctional Center pending formal charges from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
Charged at 258 ½ Leader Street with possession of Heroin and Drug Abuse Instruments:
- James Esterday 44 of Marion
- Levi Vanway 25 of Marion
- Jon C. Woods 43 of Marion
“This investigation is unprecedented in the way that local, state and federal agencies were quickly able to assemble to bring an end to this deadly batch of heroin being peddled by this drug king pin on the streets of Marion,” said Chief Bill Collins.
“We would like to thank Attorney General Mike DeWine, DEA ASAC Tim Plancon, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, METRICH Drug Task Force, MARMET Drug Task Force, Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Marion City Police Department, Marion City Special Response Team and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.”
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