'Large supplier of illegal drugs' nabbed

Two people are facing felony drug charges after authorities raided a Bellevue residence this week.

One of the suspects is accused of buying drugs through the Internet and having them shipped to his home. Authorities consider him a "large supplier of illegal drugs” in this area.

On Tuesday, Huron County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jacob T. Frost, 27, and Lawrence A. Straub, 80, after executing a search warrant at their home at 617 Dewey St.

Frost is being held in the Huron County Jail, unable to post a $150,000 bond. He charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of tampering with evidence — all third-degree felonies.
Straub is charged with conspiracy to possess illegal drugs. He was not listed as a inmate on the jail roster as of Friday morning.

Detectives from Sheriff Todd Corbin’s office and the Norwalk Police Department began an investigation in August after receiving information Frost was purchasing illegal narcotics through the Internet and having them shipped to his residence through the U.S. mail, deputies said. A suspicious package was intercepted by law enforcement, which lead to the search warrant at Frost’s residence.

Upon execution of the search warrant, Frost was found to be in possession of nearly eight times the bulk amount of suspected methamphetamine, deputies said. The suspected narcotics will be sent to the crime lab for testing, deputies said.

“Throughout the investigation, Frost was identified by multiple sources as being a large supplier of illegal drugs to the Norwalk, Bellevue and surrounding communities. Additional charges are expected in the near future,” sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Ted Evans said in a press release announcing the arrests.

Deputies were assisted during the investigation and search warrant by the Norwalk Police Department, Willard Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, Huron County Prosecutor’s Office, Erie County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Postal Service Inspectors.

The Huron County Sheriff’s Office and Norwalk, Bellevue and Willard police departments are part of METRICH Enforcement Unit, a 10-county drug task force.

“The Huron County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the agencies involved,” Evans said. “This joint investigation is a great example of what collaboration accomplishes."

Originally published on February 11, 2019 in the Norwalk Reflector.