‘Operation Fetty Stop’ yields 8 drug-related arrests in Greenfield, Rocky Fork Lake areas

The Highland County Task Force, in conjunction with the Greenfield Police Department and the Hillsboro Police Department, arrested eight people this week in connection with indictments returned by a Highland County grand jury.

Those arrested include April Koch, Fred Whitley, Evan Clay, Kevin Steward, Jonathan Meadows, Liam Souders and Carl Lockhart. All suspects were served with their indictments by the Highland County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Sept. 14.  

The indictments outline approximately 110 trafficking and possession charges as well as engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Six people remain at large from the sealed indictments issued by the Highland County grand jury.  

The latest arrests come as part of “Operation Fetty Stop,” which is the ongoing work of the Highland County Task Force and all county law enforcement agencies to stop the trafficking and use of fentanyl in Highland County. The current arrests were focused in Madison Township, the Village of Greenfield and the Rocky Fork Lake area.

Chief Investigator Randy Sanders noted that upcoming grand juries will see the efforts of covert operations to combat fentanyl in Highland County.  
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and has a legitimate medical purpose. Fentanyl is considered especially dangerous as it has the ability to cause an overdose in a very small quantity.  

According to the DEA, .2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. Drug trafficking organizations typically distribute fentanyl by the kilogram, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. For more information, see: https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) notes that toxic effects may result from the inhalation or absorption of small quantities of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. BCI now places warning notices on much of the substances sent from Highland County for testing, warning law enforcement and prosecutors not open or handle the substances.  

The Highland County Task Force has a Facebook page and takes anonymous and confidential tips regarding substance abuse and trafficking in Highland County. You can also provide information directly to a member of the Task Force by calling the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office at (937) 393-1851.