by Ann Mort

The City of Middletown Police Department has received $182,604 as their share of seized assets from 20 convicted drug dealers. 

Lieutenant Rodney Muterspaw led the team of Detective Larry Fultz and Detective David Birk (now a Sergeant) who, during 2005 and 2006 brought the drug dealers to justice.

According to Lt. Muterspaw, “Our Detectives Fultz and Birk did a fantastic job with this case.  Because of the number of criminal convictions and the amount of money seized, this is, no doubt, the largest drug criminal investigation in which  our police department has ever been involved.” 

During 2005 and 2006, Middletown Police became aware of a gang of drug dealers working in the Middletown and Southwestern Ohio area who were bringing large amounts of drugs into the area from Los Angeles, California  where the leader of the group lived.

Building a case carefully with cooperation of the FBI and other police departments in Ohio and California, 19 local drug dealers were arrested and convicted and are now serving time in Federal prisons.  Middletown detectives joined with Los Angeles police officers to raid the mansion of the leader, Clarence Remble who is now, at age 48, serving a life sentence. 

As a result of these drug convictions, homes, cars and assets were seized and handed over to the government for distribution to those involved in the case – police departments, FBI, prosecutors and others. Middletown Police, being the lead agency in the case, received the largest share of the nearly $1,000,000 distributed.

According to Federal  guidelines, the money can be used only for drug enforcement. Middletown will likely use the money to replace badly outdated and worn equipment – such as safety tactical vests, covert wire recording devices or undercover cars.

While the Middletown Police are often involved in other drug arrests and convictions, this is by far the largest pay out they’ve ever received. Recently, another $30,000 was received from other local convictions.  All such funds are used to step up the on-going drug investigation system and cannot be used to hire police officers.