Task force drug raid leads to arrest of 2 at apartment
BUTLER TWP — Two people — one a Texas fugitive — were arrested and suspected crack cocaine and heroin seized during a Friday night drug raid at a township apartment, authorities said.
The Butler County Drug Task Force led the raid at about 8 p.m. after obtaining a search warrant for the home at the Old Plank Estates apartment complex.
Arrested were Davane Jones, 29, of Dallas, Texas; and Erika E. Ringler, 30, who lives at the apartment.
Jones and Ringler are being held in Butler County Prison on $200,000 and $100,000 bail, respectively.
Officers found both defendants at the home when they executed the warrant. Jones was nabbed leaving the apartment with a large amount of currency.
The operation followed a several-month-long investigation, county Detective Tim Fennell, who heads the task force, said Monday.
“Multiple sources told us this was the place to go to buy dope,” said Fennell, referring to what launched the probe. Controlled drug buys were made during the investigation.
Officers, who believed there was at least one gun at the apartment, used a “flash bang” grenade before entering the home. Two bedroom windows were broken in the operation.
The search turned up 26.49 grams, or nearly an ounce, of suspected crack, 34 stamp bags of suspected heroin and $3,645 in currency, according to court documents.Also seized were scales, drug packaging materials, syringes and other related contraband, and a .25-caliber pistol.Authorities said a check of the National Crime Information Center database found that Jones was wanted in Texas for a parole violation stemming from an aggravated robbery case there.Investigators suspect Jones has been living out of a local motel while in Butler County. Fennell does not know how long he has been here.Ringler is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy, all felonies. She also is charged with misdemeanor possession.Jones is charged with conspiracy in the drug case. He also is charged with being a fugitive from justice.Investigators noted that following the arrests they contacted the Texas Parole Division, which indicated they would seek Jones' extradition.
