Two Arrested After Cocaine Is Thrown From Vehicle During Richland County Pursuit
MANSFIELD — Two men were arrested after investigators recovered approximately two kilograms of cocaine allegedly thrown from a vehicle during a pursuit in Richland County, according to the METRICH Enforcement Unit.
METRICH investigators, assisted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a traffic enforcement operation Tuesday, Aug. 25, involving two vehicles suspected of transporting large quantities of cocaine.
Authorities said the driver of one vehicle, identified as Lamar Depreis Johnson, stopped and was questioned by investigators.
The second driver, identified as Rashad Alexander Keith, allegedly fled from deputies, prompting a vehicle pursuit. An adult woman and a young child were reportedly inside Keith’s vehicle.
According to METRICH, approximately two kilograms of cocaine were thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit. Law enforcement officers later recovered the suspected drugs along the pursuit route.
Keith eventually stopped and was taken into custody. The agency’s release said he was charged with failure to comply, felony child endangering and a first-degree felony cocaine offense.
Investigators subsequently determined that Johnson was also allegedly involved with the cocaine, according to METRICH. He was arrested and charged with complicity to a first-degree felony cocaine offense.
The written narrative and accompanying suspect captions in the METRICH release use different descriptions for the cocaine charges. The narrative lists trafficking-related charges, while the captions identify possession-related charges.
METRICH said the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could be filed.
“This enforcement initiative demonstrates the continued commitment of the METRICH Enforcement Unit and its law enforcement partners to disrupting drug trafficking organizations and improving public safety throughout Richland County,” the agency stated.
METRICH is a 10-county task force serving North Central Ohio. Residents may report suspected drug activity by calling the METRICH crime hotline at 419-522-7463 or visiting METRICH.com.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
