'Detroit, Chicago' drug influence present in Wooster
Drugs flowing into the city, especially from places like Chicago and Detroit, continued as recently as this past weekend.
On Oct. 24, police and Medway Drug Enforcement Agency officers arrested a Chicago man following a brief car chase, and a day later police pulled over an Orrville man -- who was out on bond for drug charges -- who was found to have in his possession suspected heroin packaged for sale.
Norvell Meadows, 49, of Chicago, was arrested Oct. 24 at roughly 8 p.m. for tampering with evidence, trafficking in heroin and cocaine and multiple driving offenses.
Wooster police Sgt. Robert Merillat said police observed Meadows northbound on Madison Avenue weaving in the roadway and then running two red lights. A cruiser chased him for less than a half-mile before Meadows stopped on South Market Street, near South Street.
Merillat said suspected heroin and cocaine was thrown from the window before Meadows stopped, most of which was recovered.
Meadows was stopped by Wooster Police on U.S. Route 30 days earlier and charged for possession of marijuana in Wayne County Municipal Court.
On that charge, Meadows entered a not guilty plea and was released on a recognizance bond Oct. 25.
The following day, police arrested Christopher Wenger, 28, 717 Lehman St., Orrville.
Don Hall, senior Medway agent, said Wenger was arrested May 29 for various drug charges for which he was later indicted. He was out on bond at the time he was arrested last week.
Wenger was still being held in Wayne County Jail on Wednesday.
But Hall's undercover agents have "been buying from (Wenger)" since he has been out on bond.
Wenger was stopped Friday on the 1500 block of Akron Road at 5:45 p.m. and arrested. Hall said Wenger had a large amount of packaged heroin, as well as a large amount of cash. Hall said it was "a couple thousand" dollars.
And, Hall said, Medway executed a search warrant Oct. 3 at a duplex located at 1640 Secrest Road as part of an ongoing investigation.
From that warrant, Calvin J. Cunningham Jr., 36, of Detroit, was arrested when several thousand dollars in cash and a large amount of pills were found.
The estimated street value of the 80 mg Oxycodone pills was $30,000, according to Medway.
Cunningham was still being held in jail on Wednesday.
Other arrests were made on outstanding warrants and additional charges are pending against all three.
Hall said the "influence with Detroit and Chicago (people) dealing drugs" is clear in Wooster. And law enforcement is working to try to take drugs off the streets, he added.
Reporter Steve Huszai can be reached at 330-287-1645 or shuszai@the-daily-record.com. He is @GeneralSmithie on Twitter.