The Wheeling Police Department today announced the results of a recent two-month-long special operation that resulted in multiple arrests and roughly 200 grams of various illegal drugs seized.

The special operation took place from mid-August to mid-October after data indicated a rise in crime, fueled by multiple citizen complaints regarding criminal activity in and around the East Wheeling neighborhood, specifically 15^th Street. 

Through saturation patrols and a high-visibility approach, officers focused primarily on reducing quality-of-life-related crimes, with thefts, drug usage and distribution, and nuisance-related calls being the top complaints.

35 people were arrested as a result of the operation and face various criminal charges. Nine other people were issued citations for minor offenses. 

Since the successful conclusion of the operation, data has indicated a 75% reduction in recorded drug overdoses within the East Wheeling area/WPD Downtown District. Criminal activity and citizen complaints also have significantly decreased. 

Officers spent roughly 232 hours on the operation and confiscated 91.5 grams of cocaine, 78.6 grams of methamphetamine, 28.95 grams of crack cocaine, and 0.9 grams of fentanyl. Additionally, police served 15 search warrants, seized $1,214 in cash, and recovered two firearms.

"I am always proud to see the system we’ve built at the WPD utilized and demonstrate results,” Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said. “The geographic policing and problem-oriented policing models are very effective. From gathering data to CompStat meetings to listening to concerns from our citizens to command-level leadership demonstrating skills and abilities, dedication, and work ethic. This two-month effort encompasses all of that and has proven, yet again, to be effective. I hope that citizens and businesses in the downtown district and East Wheeling area are as proud of their police department as I am.”

The following is a list of those arrested and their charges or citations:

Roland Nathanial Copney, 35 of Wheeling
-Federal Indictment for Possession with Intent to Deliver and Firearm Possession by a Prohibited Person

Benjamin Edwards, 52, of Wheeling
-Federal Indictment for Firearm Possession by a Prohibited Person

Brian Anthony Waldvogel, 35, of Wheeling
-Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

Brittany Chantel Green, 34, of Wheeling
-Maintaining a Drug Premise-

James Russell Cox, 39, of Wheeling
 -Breaking and Entering

Lewis Edward Nida Jr., 54, of Wheeling 
 - City Capias x2

Robert Edward Mike, 52, of Valley Grove, WV
 -Possession of a Controlled Substance 

Charles Smith Rippy Jr., 69, of Pittsburgh, PA 
 -Citation for Parking Violation

Keith Dwayne Smith, 47, of Wheeling 
 -Citation for Open Container

Ruby Lynn Holley, 44, of Wheeling 
 -City Capias

Rudolph Richard Galberth Sr., 66, of Wheeling
 -City Capias

Teresa Lynn Bakaitis, 64, of Wheeling
-City Capias

Timothy Joseph Frazier, 61, of Bridgeport, OH
-Citation for Driving Suspended 1^st, Expired Registration

Jessica Mae Ensminger, 42, of Colliers, WV
 -Citation for Possession of a Controlled Substance 

Benjamin Eugene Dyer, 39, of Wheeling
-City Capias, Possession of Controlled Substance & Citation for Possession of a Controlled Substance

Ronald Jerell Jennings, 42, of Wheeling
-Obstructing

Percy Shannon Sinclair [a.k.a. ‘Pacman’], 41, of Wheeling
 -Possession of a Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Drug Premise

Encil Torrey Knudsen, 34, of Wheeling
-Probation Revocation

James Alan Hunter, 52, of Wheeling
-City capias x2, Fugitive from Justice

David Russell Kerns Sr., 52, of Wheeling
-Possession with Intent to Deliver

Tiffany Nicole Fazio, 35, of Wheeling
 -Possession of Controlled Substance x2

Joshua Patrick Steed, 36, of Wheeling
-Breaking & Entering, Possession of Controlled Substance

James Allen Contrill, 58, of Wheeling
-Citation for Open Container

Brandy Sue Matthews, 43, of Wheeling
-Citation for Trespassing

Korrie Lynn Webb, 38, of Wheeling
-Domestic Battery

Bishop Collette Paige, 46, of Wheeling
-Prostitution

Anthony Lee Arms, 43, of Wheeling
-Delivery of Controlled Substance, Conspiracy

Chelsea Aleece Radcliffe, 35, of Wheeling
-Delivery of Controlled Substance, Conspiracy

Ashley Nichole Martin, 38, of Wheeling
-Fugitive from Justice

Charles Edward Mayfield Jr., 39, of Wheeling
-Citation for Possession of Controlled Substance

Eric Daniel Wagner, 45, of Wheeling
-Citation for Trespassing

Shelly Marie Gaschler, 51, of Wheeling
-Delivery of Controlled Substance

Kyle Scott Marsh, 39, of Wheeling
-Capias

James Dempsey Short Jr., 44, of Wheeling
-Two Counts of Burglary

Shenelle April Carmalt, 41, of Wheeling
-Maintaining a Drug Premise

Michael Thomas Cujas, 43, of Benwood, WV
-Citation for Driving while Suspended (3^rd Offense)

Ryan Matthew Wright, 31, of Wheeling
 -Destruction of Property, & Obstructing

Katrina Kathleen Cameron, 49, of Wheeling
 -Possession with Intent to Deliver

Michael Lee Williams, 42, of Wheeling
-Possession with Intent to Deliver, Delivery of Controlled Substance, Conspiracy

Tiffany Nicole Taylor, 34, of Wheeling
-Possession with Intent to Deliver, Conspiracy

Jenna Nichole Keener, 27, of Wheeling
-Maintaining a Drug Premise

James Edward Williams, 41, of Wheeling
-Conspiracy