News
Five Arrested In Major Drug Bust
By: WOUB Contributing Writer
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Five men have been arrested in what's described as the biggest drug bust in twenty years.
It was a combined effort through the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission directed by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
Both Wood and Washington County Task Forces, Marietta, Vienna, Parkersburg and Belpre Police Departments helped make it happen.
Police say one of the biggest drug dealers in the area, Brent Sidwell, is now behind bars.
Sidwell, of Belpre, is back in jail after posting his first bond Thursday.
He's now facing a half a million dollar bond and is charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, on top of two counts of distribution of over 28 grams of cocaine.
The investigation has been going on for years.
Authorities say this operation has been bringing a much as 600 pounds of marijuana a month into the area.
The amount of cocaine is not official.
Wednesday night into Thursday morning the Washington County Major Crimes Task Force arrested Sidwell, Timothy Fields, 38, of Vienna and David Naylor, 27, of Parkersburg.
All three were arrested near the park and ride at the intersection of State Route 339 and U.S. 50 and charged with two counts of distribution of over 28 grams of cocaine.
Six search warrants were served that night also in Parkersburg and one in Belpre at Sidwell's home.
In total officers took 6 pounds of marijuana, a little over one pound of cocaine, a small amount of heroin and approximately $20 thousand cash.
From Sidwell's home, they took 5 vehicles, two jet skis, a commerial mower, furniture and more allegedly purchased with the drug money.
Both Fields and Naylor are in jail on $200,000 bond.
The investigation continues, as officials say this is an international drug trade.
Also arrested as part of the investigation was Dustin Jarvis, of Mineral Wells, who is charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver.
And Jeffery Brown, of Parkersburg, was arrested and charged with the same thing.
Officials are still looking for Christopher Paul Johnson, of Parkersburg who is wanted for conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.
Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin says this was great cooperation between the two counties but they have a long road ahead and the investigation continues
The Wood County Sheriff's Office confiscated large amounts of cocaine out of the area as well with in the last couple of days.
This article contributed by WTAP Television in Parkersburg