Ashland Woman Faces Drug Charges Following Police Raid

Joe Lyons • November 7, 2024

Ashland Woman Faces Drug Charges Following Police Raid

Ashland, Ohio – Ashland Police Division Officers, and the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, along with the SWAT team served a search warrant on the morning of November 6th at 139 1/2 E Liberty Street, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Tara Preece. Law enforcement executed the warrant around 9:30 a.m., uncovering methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and suspected fentanyl at the residence.

Preece appeared for a virtual bond hearing at 1:30 p.m. before Ashland County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Paul T. Lange. The hearing addressed a complaint filed by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, detailing a felony charge of aggravated possession of drugs. According to the complaint, Preece is alleged to have knowingly obtained or used a controlled substance, specifically 2.509 grams of methamphetamine, on or about November 6.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew C. Metcalf recommended that bond be set at $5,000, secured by cash or other assets, and proposed conditions for release. These included requiring Preece to remain within Ohio, undergo a drug and alcohol assessment, and comply with treatment recommendations due to her history of substance-related charges. Metcalf cited previous convictions involving drug offenses, falsification, and failure to appear as additional grounds for the bond terms.

The court was informed that Preece has a prior record, with several drug-related convictions dating back to 2017. In 2021, she was convicted in Ashland of aggravated possession of drugs, adding to similar offenses in 2019 and 2020.

Ashland Police Division has not yet issued a public statement regarding the arrest or the details of the search warrant execution, despite multiple requests.