The Wheeling Police Department announced today several individuals were charged during a two-week special operation targeting specific nuisance related crimes in several sections of the city.

“Operation Silent Night” took place from Dec. 12-23, 2022, in neighborhoods where specific data and crime trends by WPD’s Crime Analysts Office showed an uptick in incidents. Areas monitored by police included East Wheeling, South Wheeling, Center Wheeling, Wheeling Island and Downtown.

Additionally, officers, both in marked and unmarked vehicles, focused on improving quality of life issues for residents in the city. Individuals arrested and facing criminal charges include:

• Jessie Covington, 39 of Wheeling
  Active capias for a bond violation
   
• Arliena Henry, 46 of Wheeling
   Fugitive from Justice out of the State of Ohio
   
• Ruby Holley, 42 of Wheeling
   Municipal court capias from the City of Wheeling
   
• Stephen Hoppin, 54 of Wheeling
   Fugitive from Justice out of the State of Ohio
   
• Seth Nelson, 34 of Wheeling
  Possession of Controlled Substance
   
• Paul Strick, 68 of Bellaire, Ohio
  DUI (1^st Offense) and Possession of Controlled Substance

Three others received citations: 

• Richard Britton, 38 of Wheeling
  Driving w/ Suspended Operators License
   
• Benjamin Edwards, 51 of Wheeling
  No Operators License and Possession of Controlled Substance
   
• Steven Stewart, 66 of Martins Ferry, Ohio
  Possession of Controlled Substance

 
Two major incidents occurred during the two-week period. The first happened on Friday, Dec. 16 when officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in East Wheeling for traffic violations. As a result, the driver fled at a high rate of speed from officers and a visual of the car was unable to be maintained. Shortly after, officers located the vehicle in the area and observed that it was unoccupied with its windows in the down position. No suspect was located, and the incident remains under investigation. 

The second notable event took place on Dec. 19, when officers working the operation obtained an arrest warrant for Joseph Helmbright, 54 of Wheeling and charged him with Maintaining/Operating a Drug Premise. This was the result of a search warrant at 82 - 45^th Street in South Wheeling. Helmbright is still currently wanted for this charge.

During the entire operation, officers seized the following approximate total amounts of illegal controlled substances and items:

• Methamphetamine – Approximately 4.55 grams
• Crack Cocaine – Approximately 1.7 grams
• Buprenorphine – Approximately 2.5 pills
• Marijuana – Approximately 38.45 grams
• One Firearm
• Large amount of drug paraphernalia
   
  The operation was funded mostly by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Overtime was covered by the City of Wheeling.