FAYETTE COUNTY, Ohio — Drug trafficking activities in Fayette County have resulted in the arrest and incarceration of three individuals in two separate incidents that took place within the past week. The arrests were made by detectives from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office who were conducting surveillance in the 1300 block of Forest Street just outside Washington Court House on Friday, February 10, 2023.
During the operation, deputies encountered Tony Wood, a 40-year-old male from Dayton, Ohio, who was suspected to be involved in drug trafficking activities. When Wood failed to comply with verbal commands from the deputies, a brief struggle ensued, leading to his arrest for obstructing official business and resisting arrest. Upon searching Wood’s person, suspected illicit drugs were discovered, which later tested positive for a controlled substance. Further investigation led to the discovery of an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency, suspected narcotics, and drug paraphernalia items in an apartment located at 1325 Forest Street Apt C. Wood was charged with Possession of Drugs, a second-degree felony, Obstructing Official Business, and Resisting Arrest, and remains incarcerated under a $50,000 bond.
In another incident, detectives from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by members of the Washington Court House Police Department, agents from the US 23 Major Crimes Task Force, the Greenfield Police Department, the Highland County Prosecutor’s Investigative Unit, and the U.S. Marshal’s Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), executed arrest warrants at the Baymont Inn located at 11431 Allen Rd NW in Jeffersonville, Ohio.
During the operation, detectives observed Vercie L. Lark, a 41-year-old male from Dayton, Ohio, and Carla A. Doctor, a 51-year-old female from Washington Court House, engaging in suspicious activity. Lark was seen discarding a duffel bag before fleeing on foot from law enforcement personnel, but he was apprehended following a brief foot chase. Doctor was taken into custody without incident. Upon searching the duffel bag, detectives found multiple pounds of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine.
Lark was charged with two counts of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, both felonies of the first degree, and remains incarcerated under a $200,000 bond. Doctor was charged with one count of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and remains incarcerated under a $100,000 bond.
Sheriff Vernon Stanforth extended his gratitude to the agencies involved in the operations and commended his detectives and patrol deputies for their efforts in investigating drug trafficking complaints and seizing deadly drugs before they are distributed in the communities. The cases will be forwarded to the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office for review, and additional charges are likely to be filed.
