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Police confiscate drugs, money

OPD displays Percocet, Adderall, marijuana, scales and money from recent drug busts.
OPD displays Percocet, Adderall, marijuana, scales and money from recent drug busts.

Erin Fischesser

OPD displays Percocet, Adderall, marijuana, scales and money from recent drug busts.

In a three-day time period, Oxford police confiscated more than $2,000 and 5 ounces of marijuana in multiple drug busts across the city.

According to Sgt. Jim Squance, while police has not seen an increase in the occurrence of drug trafficking, more resources have been allocated to the issue, resulting in more arrests.

"We have a dedicated police unit for drug and alcohol investigations," Squance said. "They're making a lot of progress and putting a dent in the drug trade in Oxford."

The Oxford Police Department's Drug Investigative Unit conducted two searches Jan. 14 that resulted in multiple charges.

Both searches were conducted after warrants were issued based on information received by the Drug Investigative Unit and eventually led to a third search warrant.

The first occurred at 409 Lincoln St. at 2 a.m. and resulted in five arrests.

Timothy Payne, 20, was charged with drug abuse and drug paraphernalia.

Shawn Snider, 20, was charged with possession of drugs (Percocet), drug paraphernalia and drug abuse.

Christopher Frey, 22, was charged with drug paraphernalia, drug abuse and two counts of possession of drugs (Adderall).

Joseph Even, 19, was charged with tampering with evidence, child endangering and two counts of trafficking in drugs.

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Benjamin Bruns, 19, was charged with drug abuse, drug paraphernalia, certain acts prohibited and obstruction of official business.

According to the Drug Investigative Unit, the charges of obstructing official business and tampering with evidence were a result of Bruns and Even attempting to run from police and throw a bag of marijuana in a trash can.

Even's charge of child endangering was due to the presence of a 17-year-old minor.

In total, police said they uncovered more than one ounce of marijuana, Percocet, two types of Adderall, digital scales and more than 20 pipes.

The second bust occurred at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 14 at 210 N. Main St. apartment number four.

Miami sophomore Martin Shea, 19, was charged with possession of drugs (Adderall), drug paraphernalia, drug abuse and two counts of trafficking in drugs.

According to police, Shea had a safe in his closet that contained $1,800 in cash, more than four ounces of marijuana and a video camera.

Police reportedly seized the contents of the safe, digital scales, a computer, a flat screen TV and more than $800 in additional cash.

Miami sophomore Rory Ward, 20, was charged with underage possession of alcohol.

Information obtained during the execution of the first two warrants led to the execution of a third warrant at 131 W. Spring St. at 7 p.m. Jan. 17.

As a result of this search, Miami sophomore Alosha Sytnik was charged with trafficking in drugs, drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs. Miami junior Joel O'Connor was charged with drug paraphernalia.

According to police, a large amount of marijuana was also found in the residence.

Squance said that efforts to stop illegal consumption of alcohol and the use of illegal drugs should have an effect on crime in the community as a whole.

"Illegal consumption of alcohol and drugs leads to a lot of other crimes in Oxford," Squance said.