Recordpub.com - Drug task force targets Nelson Ledges Quarry Park

By Colin McEwen

Record-Courier staff writer

Eight people were arraigned Monday in Portage County Municipal Court on charges of possessing and trafficking drugs at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park during the weekend.

On Friday evening, undercover officers from the Portage County Drug Task Force entered the park with $800 in cash and were approached by several people soliciting drugs. In less than an hour, five people were arrested, according to Portage County Sheriff David Doak.

Cedric Smith, 19, and Bradley Szuber, 20, both of Lima, were arrested and each charged with trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony. Their bonds were set at 10 percent of $25,000.

Perry Blankenship, 47, of Paw Paw, Mich., was charged with trafficking in psilocybin mushrooms, a fifth-degree felony, after he was discovered with a large amount of the hallucinogen. His bond also was set at 10 percent of $25,000.

Nicholas Melnik, 28, of Lowelville and Case Walters, 20, of Cleveland also were charged with trafficking in psilocybin mushrooms, a fifth-degree felony. Bond for each was set at 10 percent of $15,000.

On Saturday, the sheriff’s office received a report from the park’s security of further drug activity.

When two deputies responded, they arrested three more people.

Alex Morrow, 25, of Greensburg, Ind., was arrested and charged with trafficking drugs, a second-degree felony. His bond was set at 10 percent of $25,000.

Thomas McCusker, 21, of 3689 Beck Road, Mantua, was charged with fifth-degree felony trafficking in cocaine. His bond was set at 10 percent of $75,000.

Frances Blair, 21, of Cleveland, was charged with second-degree felony possession of psilocybin mushrooms. Her bond was also set at 10 percent of $75,000.

Saturday’s bust netted $9,000, Doak said.

Doak said he expects more charges to be filed.

Just near the evidence lockers at the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Doak held up evidence bags from the weekend’s arrests highlighting the dozens of pills and narcotics inside.

“What really concerns us is that many people coming in and out of (the park) impaired,” he said. “We’re going to keep stepping on it. The task force guys said it was like shooting fish in a barrel.”

Doak said the enforcement at the park was the result of drug-related activity in and around the quarry. Throughout the years, authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests at the park, most recently in April when eight people were arrested in three days.

The weekend music festival was the Floyd/Zeppelin/Classic Fest, but Doak isn’t sure the people attending are there only for the music.

“The drugs are out of control up there,” Doak said. “It’s like a flea market, and I’m not going to ignore it.”

78.	Posted by NLQPLOVER July 1, 2009
	Of course the Police are watching this page. Hopefully they will see just how childish their citizens act. Those of us with clear consciences have nothing to fear. That's why we're signing our real names instead of hiding with an alias. I know when I go to NLQP I go to enjoy the music and friendship with my kids. I don't go there to buy whatever they're selling in the woods. We want hard drugs out of our park just as much as Sheriff Doaks does. That's why we defend our second home here on RecordPub as well as anywhere else where NLQP is bashed. I proudly wear my NLQP hoodie where ever I go to let people see that we're not at all the bad people that narcolicious and yes, Tim "Sundog" say we are. With threads like this we let people see that we all have the same goal for our park that they have. To keep it clear of hard drugs so we can enjoy the park without fear for our children's safety. I know we've changed a couple peoples views of us here and we will continue to post until we dismiss the rumors about our park. Again, I invite Sheriff Doaks and his Deputies to come to my site anytime. I have nothing to hide. Respectfully, Barb SOH Like SOH Said We want hard drugs out of our park Pot And Shrooms ARE NOT HARD DRUGS LEAVE US HIPPIES ALONE DOAK I WILL SMOKE A FATTIE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU B I T C H

74.	Posted by Old Ma June 25, 2009
	I was able to visit the park Tuesday afternoon with my four granddaughters. It was our first visit. We fell in love with the beauty of the park. With young children we were stuck in the shallow swimming area of the lake. But, we were able to take in the view. People jumping in across the way from a large high cliff, people in paddle and canoe boats, vendors selling everything from body lotions to tacos. Staff working with large front end loaders, clean outdoor johns, we were very impressed. The teenager and I have made plans to camp there. We even picked out our site area. Lots of wonderful areas to camp in. THANKS for all the posting of this venue. We found another home away from home. I can't wait for the deadfest and the family weekend in August with the young ones. I will be attending the dead fest with adults only, lol. Narcolicious, If we should meet, I will be the old lady who slaps you up side your punkhead.

70.	Posted by SOH June 24, 2009
	Of course the Police are watching this page. Hopefully they will see just how childish their citizens act. Those of us with clear consciences have nothing to fear. That's why we're signing our real names instead of hiding with an alias. I know when I go to NLQP I go to enjoy the music and friendship with my kids. I don't go there to buy whatever they're selling in the woods. We want hard drugs out of our park just as much as Sheriff Doaks does. That's why we defend our second home here on RecordPub as well as anywhere else where NLQP is bashed. I proudly wear my NLQP hoodie where ever I go to let people see that we're not at all the bad people that narcolicious and yes, Tim "Sundog" say we are. With threads like this we let people see that we all have the same goal for our park that they have. To keep it clear of hard drugs so we can enjoy the park without fear for our children's safety. I know we've changed a couple peoples views of us here and we will continue to post until we dismiss the rumors about our park. Again, I invite Sheriff Doaks and his Deputies to come to my site anytime. I have nothing to hide. Respectfully, Barb SOH