Throughout the day on Thursday, Feb. 25, several Blanchester residents reported that their unlocked cars had been entered during the overnight hours and items stolen, according to Police Chief Scott Reinbolt.
An investigation was undertaken, which included a search of an apartment in the 300 block of North Street, Blanchester. Reinbolt said inside the apartment officers recovered a number of the items reported stolen from cars, as well as items used in the illegal ingestion of narcotic substances. Those items included some 25 hypodermic needles, scales for weighing narcotics and pipes for smoking illegal drugs, police said.
Information gathered in the investigation provided evidence that the person responsible for the thefts was Nicholas Jacobs, 28, who had been a house guest at that apartment, according to police, and evidence was also gathered indicating Jacobs to be the owner of the drug paraphernalia.
Jacobs, who is currently on probation, was arrested and jailed. Reinbolt said he was charged with four counts of theft, one count of Possession of Drug Abuse Instruments and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He will answer the charges in Clinton County Municipal Court.
Woman not involved in alleged trespass
A press release issued Feb. 25 by Blanchester Police stated that two people were charged with Criminal Trespass for allegedly entering onto the property of Joe’s Towing during the late night hours of Feb. 24-25. At the time of that press release Morgan Barney had been identified by a witness as a participant in the alleged crime. However, according to Police Chief Scott Reinbolt, new information was provided to police Feb. 25 indicating Barney was not involved in the trespass. Therefore, no charge was filed against Barney, said Reinbolt.
Police: Man overdoses, charged
Reinbolt said that at around 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, police responded to an ambulance call in the 300 block of S. Broadway Street, where they found Brandon Powell, 23, not breathing and with no heartbeat. Sgt. Gary Mowen performed CPR until the ambulance arrived and Powell was transported to Clinton Memorial Hospital.
Evidence gathered indicates Powell, who resides in the 800 block of E. Center Street, Blanchester, suffered a heroin overdose, Reinbolt said. He has been charged with one count of Possession of Drug Abuse Instruments, alleging that he possessed a hypodermic needle with the intent to use it to ingest an illegal narcotic.
Reinbolt added that there is no evidence to suggest that the person residing at the home had any involvement in any illegal conduct.
