Charges pending after drug raid

Five Bettsville children have been placed in the custody of children’s services as a result of a drug-related search warrant in the village Thursday night.

Several officers from area law enforcement agencies executed the search warrant shortly after 9:30 p.m. at 216 State St., Bettsville, resulting in several pending charges in the case. Bettsville Police Chief Brandon Bell said the conditions in the apartment were “deplorable,” triggering the involvement of children’s services.

“Agents discovered five children inside the residence at the time of the execution of the search warrant,” Bell said in a news release. “The Seneca County Children Services were requested to respond to the scene for the deplorable condition that the apartment was found in. The children were removed and placed into children services custody.”

Officers from the Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit, combined with additional deputies from the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and officers from Bettsville and Tiffin police departments, raided the residence of Jeremy Murphy, 28.

According to the news release, officials received a report of an alleged drug trafficker who was distributing heroin in the village.

The search warrant, signed by Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court Judge Mark Repp, unveiled suspected heroin, illicit prescription pills, U.S. currency, criminal tools, and drug paraphernalia. Charges of trafficking heroin, possession of heroin, possession of criminal tools, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child endangerment are pending in the case, the release stated.

Charges are expected to be filed upon the conclusion of the drug investigation and the return of the lab analysis of the substances recovered as a result of the investigation.

Officials said the entire county, including rural areas, is being affected by the increase of illegal drugs. Area law enforcement, along with task force resources, are tracking dealers to address the issues that affect the county.

Originally published in the Review Times on July 30, 2016.