Raid on Howard nets stolen car, cocaine, cash, guns, arrests

Cocaine valued at $10,000 was seized and two people were arrested on possession charges Monday during a METRICH raid on Howard Street.

Officers from the Mansfield Police Department’s second watch recovered a vehicle reported stolen from Columbus at 437 Howard St. While the officers were speaking with the home’s occupants, they observed a small bag of suspected cocaine next to a small chrome handgun on the coffee table in the living room.

They requested assistance from the METRICH Enforcement Unit in drafting a search warrant, which was signed by Mansfield Muncipal Court Judge Frank Ardis.

During a search at 5:40 p.m., detectives located and seized 86.5 grams of powder cocaine, five assorted handguns, a shotgun and $11,390 in U.S. currency. Detectives also located power tools they suspect were exchanged for drugs, according to a news release.

Police arrested Kenneth McDaniel, 25, on a cocaine possession charge. He also was served a felony warrant on a drug trafficking charge and taken to the Richland County Jail. Teka Skelton, 25, was charged with possession of cocaine and taken to jail, according to the police report.

Additional charges are being presented to the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration.

Originally published in the News Journal on August 21, 2013.