OHIO — Two Ohio men were taken into custody on drug charges following a traffic stop on Interstate 77 this week, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies Thorn berry and Wallace were conducting stationary patrol when they observed a silver van pass without visible registration.
Upon stopping the vehicle, the deputies noticed significant movement in the backseat, with one passenger’s dreadlocks visibly whipping around as he turned to look at the patrol car.
The vehicle was found to have a temporary Ohio registration tag, though it was not immediately visible.
Deputy Wallace made contact with the driver and rear passenger, identified as Niaire Clipper, while Deputy Thornberry spoke with the front passenger and another rear passenger, Antione Dortch. The driver informed deputies that the vehicle was a rental.
Both Dortch and Clipper stated they had no identification but provided their social security numbers.
During the interaction, deputies discovered Clipper had an active warrant for drug trafficking issued by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. He was immediately taken into custody.
A K-9 unit, Mauser, was deployed for a free air sniff and indicated the presence of drugs on the passenger side.
Deputies removed all occupants from the vehicle and conducted a pat-down of Dortch, during which they noticed an unusual object in his groin area.
When asked, Dortch voluntarily pulled his pants aside, initially revealing only his body part. However, deputies also observed a cellophane-wrapped package protruding from the area.
Upon further inspection, deputies found 21.95 grams of suspected fentanyl in a clear plastic baggie and 4.90 grams in a blue plastic baggie. Dortch declined to comment when read his Miranda Rights.
Clipper then admitted to having drugs in his pants. As deputies assisted him in retrieving the substances, one of the baggies opened while being moved down his leg.
Deputies recovered two baggies—one containing 13.69 grams of suspected fentanyl and the other 5.81 grams. A working scale was also found inside the vehicle.
Clipper, 20, of Norton, OH, was arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl and drug trafficking, both second-degree felonies.
He was also taken into custody on an active indictment from December 2024 for fentanyl trafficking and possession.
Dortch, 19, of Akron, OH, was arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl and drug trafficking, both first-degree felonies.
Both suspects appeared in Marietta Municipal Court and are currently being held on a $200,000 bond with stipulations for personal recognizance. Their next court appearance is scheduled for March 26, 2025.
