Mentor police arrest four men tied to cocaine trafficking ring

Mentor police arrested four men accused of participating in a cocaine trafficking operation.

Darryl Howard, 32, of Willowick, Edward Hedge, 50, of Cleveland, Lawson White, 42, of Mentor and Gregory Bell, 45, of Mentor were taken into custody last week by investigators.

All four are scheduled to appear at 8 a.m. Thursday in Mentor Municipal Court.

Detectives recovered more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and undisclosed amounts of marijuana and marijuana candy after the months-long probe. They seized over $44,000 in cash, eight guns and three vehicles.

The ongoing investigation is a joint effort by Mentor police, the Lake County Narcotics Agency and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Officials expect to make more arrests in the coming days.

The men were arraigned on Friday.

A judge set Howard's bond at $500,000. He is charged with trafficking in cocaine, aggravated possession of cocaine and possession of criminal tools.

White is being held on $585,000 bond. He faces charges of aggravated possession of cocaine, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of criminal tools and two counts of trafficking in cocaine.

Hedge's bond was set at $350,000. He's charged with trafficking in cocaine, aggravated possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and drug abuse.

Bell is being held on $360,000 bond on charges of trafficking in cocaine, aggravated possession of cocaine, possession of criminal tools, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Posted by Northeast Ohio Media Group