ATHENS, Ohio — Athens County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team carried out a targeted operation at a residence in the City of Athens, marking a crucial development in an ongoing investigation by the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force, who uncovered serious psychedelic drugs near a school zone.
The focus of the operation was 28 Montrose Avenue, a residence under scrutiny for its involvement in illegal narcotics trafficking. Following the securement of the premises, a thorough search yielded a substantial quantity of illegal narcotics, alongside cash and firearms.
According to the County Sheriff, the seized items included seven times the state-defined ‘bulk’ LSD, sixty-eight times ‘bulk’ psilocybin mushroom bars, and ‘bulk’ ecstasy. the Sheriff noted the proximity to a school zone, leading to elevated charges.
All confiscated items are slated for analysis by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), with additional charges anticipated through collaboration with the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office.
In connection with the operation, Michael A. Simms, 20, was apprehended on charges of Trafficking Drugs and Possession of Drugs.
The Southeast Major Crimes Task Force, aligned with the Ohio Attorney General’s Organized Crime Investigation Commission, comprises representatives from various law enforcement agencies and prosecutor’s offices across the region, collectively addressing organized crime matters.