Police search 2 homes in Fostoria, 1 arrested

Police executed two drug-related search warrants early Thursday morning in Fostoria, resulting in the arrest of a woman.

According to a release from the Seneca County Drug Task Force METRICH Enforcement Unit, officers from the Fostoria, Tiffin, Green Springs and Attica police departments assisted METRICH in conducting the searches at 419 N. Town St. and 434 Stadium Drive.

At the North Town Street residence, suspected heroin, prescription drugs, criminal tools, money and a large amount of drug paraphernalia, including hypodermic needles, were found. Juveniles also were found to be in the residence. At the Stadium Drive residence, marijuana, criminal tools and drug paraphernalia were found.

According to the release, Rachel E. Larsen, 29, who is a resident of the North Town Street home, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Sandusky County.

Charges of trafficking heroin, possession of heroin, child endangerment, possession of criminal tools, permitting drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia are pending against her and the other residents of the North Town Street residence. They include Latoya Bowers, 26, Steven Roberts, 31, and David Roberts, 30, according to the release.

Charges of possession of criminal tools, marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia are pending for Dean Harmon, 49, and Beverly Bicknell, 57, both of whom live at the Stadium Drive residence.

METRICH Unit Coordinator Chuck Boyer said law enforcement had been receiving a lot of complaints about the homes, and that the residents of each home had allegedly been dealing drugs between one another. "Our community, like other communities throughout the state of Ohio, is being plagued with heroin abuse and trafficking. This is one step of attempting to reduce the availability of such a devastating and life-threatening drug," Capt. Pat Brooks of the Fostoria Police Department said in the release.

Originally published in the Advertiser Tribune on December 13, 2013.