Trio arrested in drug raid at duplex in Butler
A Wednesday night drug raid by county narcotics officers at a Butler duplex netted an alleged dealer from Ohio, a fugitive from Tennessee and a toilet bowl of suspected crack cocaine and heroin.
Investigators said they also seized evidence that the home on the 300 block of East Locust Street was being used to “cook” cocaine into the more potent crack.
Jailed on felony drug charges are Shane F. Overton, 27, of Youngstown, and Aaron J. Baysek, 45, who lives at the home. Lea M. Hein, 41, of Lyndora is also behind bars on the out-of-state, drug-related warrant.
The arrests culminated a two-month investigation. During that time, officers suspect Overton had been relocating at different homes in the city to sell drugs, said county Detective John Johnson, assistant coordinator for the task force.
Multiple controlled drug buys were also conducted as part of the investigation, which led to a search warrant executed around 8 p.m. Wednesday at the East Locust Street duplex.
The task force's emergency services unit deployed a flash bang before officers entered the house. Baysek, the tenant, is suspected of allowing Overton to use the home to sell drugs.Along with Overton, Baysek and Hein, officers found four other people at the home. Those others were detained, questioned and subsequently released.In the bathroom, Johnson said, officers found a large bag of suspected crack and a small bag of suspected heroin floating in the toilet bowl. Investigators speculated that someone tried unsuccessfully to flush the drugs.Officers retrieved the bags that contained about 27.8 grams of suspected crack and 7.6 grams of suspected heroin.They also allegedly found drug-packaging materials, a digital scale and evidence that indicated “cocaine cooking,”Additionally, Overton was found carrying $345 in currency. Some of that, officers said, was official, prerecorded “buy money.”
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Overton and Baysek on two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony charge of conspiracy and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.Both defendants are in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail each.Hein is being held on the fugitive from justice charge pending her extradition to Hamilton County, Tenn.Authorities said that during the search, they found another woman at the home with several drug-smoking pipes and a marijuana grinder. She is to be charged by summons with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
