'Person of interest' in ODs nabbed

Police say a Tiffin man who is a "person of interest" in heroin overdoses was arrested on an outstanding warrant Tuesday night. Detective Chuck Boyer of Seneca County Drug Task Force — METRICH Enforcement Unit said Cody R. Brown, 26, was out on bond on drug charges. Brown was indicted by a Seneca County grand jury on two counts of trafficking in heroin, both fifth-degree felonies, in December. Court records state Allstate Bail Bonds posted bond for him Dec. 21. Brown failed to appear for his arraignment in Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Steve Shuff's courtroom Jan. 12, and a bench warrant for his arrest was issued, they state. Boyer said Tiffin Police Department had information Brown was living with his girlfriend, Leticia Lopez, at 70 1/2 Coe St., the residence of Lopez' mother, Terri Smith. When officers arrived, Lopez told them Brown wasn't there, but they saw him in a back room, he said. "(They) arrested Cody," he said. Officers suspected Brown had heroin in the back room and summoned the drug task force, Boyer said. "We found a safe," he said. The task force obtained a search warrant for the safe and located a gun inside. Officers found what appeared to be heroin, digital scales and other items consistent with drug trafficking, Boyer said. He said the gun was sent to a laboratory for testing to prove it belonged to Brown. Brown cannot have guns while out on bond and also is prohibited from having them due to a prior drug conviction, Boyer said. Charges of trafficking heroin and having weapons while under disability were pending Wednesday based on the outcome of laboratory results. A charge of possession of criminal tools also was pending. Brown is a person of interest in task force investigations, including into overdoses, Boyer said. Citizens can continue to report suspicious activity to their local agencies or the task force's hotline at (877) 446-DRUG or (419) 443-0463.