Two charged for heroin trafficking

Two men arrested at a Spink Street residence Jan. 31 have been charged on allegations of drug trafficking.

Raphael E. Belcher, 27, 1858 Clonnade Road, Cleveland, and John L. Miller Jr., 36, 743 Spink St., have both been charged with trafficking in heroin, first-degree felony charges, in Wayne County Municipal Court.

They both remain in jail on $100,000 cash or surety bonds and have preliminary hearings scheduled for Feb. 9. Another man who was arrested -- Michael Gentzel -- was released without charges.

They were arrested when the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency, Wooster Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol executed a search warrant at 743 Spink St. following a drug investigation.

While at the home, investigators found Belcher and Miller (plus two other men who have not yet been charged), along with drugs, cash, paraphernalia and a loaded handgun.

Nearly 1.5 ounces of suspected heroin was seized from the house, plus Xanax pills and a suboxone strip.

Court records indicate that Belcher had been staying at the residence for nearly two weeks and was reportedly bringing heroin from Cleveland to sell locally. Two men who have not been charged told law enforcement they were addicts; several syringes were found in the home.

The investigation also alleged that Miller was reportedly selling drugs from the home, which is less than 1,000 feet away from St. Mary's School.

By STEVEN F. HUSZAI Staff Writer