Posted: 5:23 p.m. Friday, April 25, 2014

Middletown police arrest four people in the city’s ‘largest drug bust’ of the year

By Lot Tan

Staff Writer

    Middletown police arrested two Dayton-area men and two others in connection to the “largest drug bust” this year in the city.

    Sgt. David Birk of the narcotics division said his team seized more than $15,000 and approximately three-quarters of a kilo of narcotics. Police estimate the street value of the drugs at up to $30,000.

    “We located in a shoe box a large sum of money, over $15,000 in cash. In a back bedroom, we located crack cocaine on a shelf in plain view,” Birk said. “(We) found other bags containing heroin, about an ounce and a half. Also there was a trap door in a back utility room; inside there, we found some cases that contained cocaine and a large sum of heroin.”

    The Butler Undercover Regional Narcotics task force assisted Middletown police in the three-month-long investigation.

Officers executed a search warrant at two houses located at 708 17th Avenue and 915 14th Avenue on April 23 at 10:30 a.m after receiving “several complaints from confidential informants.”

    Officers arrested Matthias Rutledge of 915 14th Avenue and Ronald Rutledge of 708 17th Avenue. The brothers are from the Dayton area and both are charged with trafficking in drugs, drug abuse heroin and drug abuse cocaine. Mathias Rutledge also is charged with drug abuse crack cocaine and Ronald Rutledge also faces drug abuse paraphernalia charges.

    Police also arrested Marvella Hawkins and Damon Graham in connection to the drug bust.

“We’re constantly fighting the battle on drugs. We do have a drug hotline, it’s a tip line,” said Birk. Residents can call 513-425-7749 and leave a message for officers.

“Great for the community, great for Butler County,” Birk said of the bust. “These individuals they’re a burden on society.”

    According to Middletown Municipal Court records, Ronald Rutledge is scheduled to be in court on April 28 at 9 a.m. for an arraignment and Matthias Rutledge is scheduled to be in court on April 28 at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.