Galion drug raid finds kids in feces-filled home

Crawford County authorities conducted a drug raid at a Galion home Wednesday morning, expecting to find illegal substances.

What they found was worse, said Galion Detective Eric Bohach.

“In my 12 years it was the nastiest house I’ve been in,” Bohach said. “You couldn’t walk or sit anywhere without being in what appeared to be feces.”

There were running utilities in the home, he said.

Resident Rachel Schwier, 23, was arrested after officers found suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, suspected synthetic marijuana, suspected crack cocaine and suspected prescription drugs in her 763 S. Boston St. home, according to a news release from Galion police Chief Brian Saterfield.

The METRICH Enforcement Unit, Galion Police Department Special Investigations Unit, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Bucyrus Police Department conducted the search.

Schwier also was charged with child endangering after police found her two children, 1 and 3, without clothing in the home, Bohach said.

Crawford County Job and Family Services was called to remove the children, he said.

“Due to the deplorable conditions inside the house, two young children ... were removed and placed into foster care,” Saterfield said, adding more charges might be filed later.

After seeing the house, Bohach said the department is asking people to be more vigilant in their neighborhoods and to call in any suspected drug activity, especially when children are involved.

“It looked like (the family) had been eating off regular plates, but instead of washing them they were putting them in boxes and putting them up on the second floor,” Bohach said. “It’s uncalled for for a kid to have to live like that.”

Any suspicious or drug-related activity can be reported to the Galion Police Department TIPS line at 419-468-3480.

“We appreciate all information we receive regarding illegal activity from the community and ask that the reports continue,” Saterfield said. “We cannot do this alone.”

Originally published in the News Journal on August 15, 2013.

*click back button to return to news post list