Alleged crack sale lands suspect in jail

A Tiffin man whose residence was searched earlier this month as part of a drug-related investigation was arrested Thursday afternoon after he allegedly sold crack cocaine to an undercover operative.

According to a release from the Seneca County Drug Task Force METRICH Enforcement Unit, James R. Kiser, 36, was arrested after a sting operation in the area of North Washington and North Sandusky streets.

Chuck Boyer, unit coordinator for METRICH, said after selling the suspected crack cocaine to the undercover operative, law enforcement arrested Kiser and then searched his residence, 195 Second Ave., where additional suspected crack cocaine, criminal tools and evidence of drug trafficking were found.

Kiser's residence had been searched Jan. 9 when evidence of drug trafficking, criminal tools and money were found. He was not arrested following that search because the suspected crack cocaine first had to be sent to a lab to be tested. Charges of trafficking crack cocaine are still pending from the Jan. 9 search, Boyer said.

Following Thursday's operation and search, Kiser faces additional charges of trafficking crack cocaine, including complicity to trafficking crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and possession of criminal tools, according to the release.

"Evidently he didn't get the hint to not sell crack cocaine in the area," Boyer said.

Boyer said Kiser is currently incarcerated on charges of trafficking crack cocaine and driving under suspension.

Kiser had recently moved to Tiffin, Boyer said, and METRICH had continued to receive complaints about a lot of traffic in and out of Kiser's residence, even after execution of the first search warrant.

According to the release, METRICH was assisted Thursday by officers from the Tiffin Police Department and the Fostoria Police Department.

Originally published in the Advertiser Tribune on January 31, 2014.