OxfordPress.com

Police discover drug paraphernalia during house check

While performing a requested house check over the Thanksgiving break, Oxford police found themselves making an unexpected drug bust.

The residents of 16 W. Collins St. asked police to check on their home during the break, but apparently forgot to conceal a bong and several pipes from clear view. Officers checked the house Nov. 29, noting two screens on the front windows of the residence were pushed up and the windows themselves were easily slid open.

Officers entered the house themselves, but said it did not appear that anything had been disturbed. While checking an upstairs bedroom, police said they discovered a bong in plain view and a blue grinder sitting on a coffee table. The grinder and bong both had suspected marijuana residue on them.

Returning to the living room, police found a pair of marijuana pipes containing what appeared to be burnt marijuana residue in them. All of the contraband was seized, and police have contacted the owners of the property in order to proceed with pressing charges.

Liberty teens charged over four bottles of liquor

Two Liberty, Ind., teenagers were arrested Nov. 30 after police discovered four bottles of hard liquor in their vehicle.

Oxford police were dispatched to the McDonald's drive-thru, where an employee reportedly observed a passenger of the vehicle vomiting.

Officers located the vehicle and attempted to speak with its occupants, but immediately noticed a passenger attempting to conceal a bottle of vodka. An officer opened the door next to the teen, causing the bottle to crash to the ground.

Carlos Deaton, 18, of 5 E. Sycamore St., Liberty, Ind., was taken into custody and officers found three additional bottles of vodka during a search of the vehicle. Three other males who were in the vehicle were asked to step out while police conducted a more thorough search.

Caleb Crooks, 18, 2753 S. U.S. 27, Liberty, Ind., reportedly had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, had slurred speech and seemed confused. Officers were able to locate a bottle of Jagermeister during the second search, which Crooks said belonged to him. Deaton told officers the vodka was all his, saying they had purchased it in Indiana and consumed in on their drive to Oxford.

Crooks and Deaton were issued citations for offenses involving underage persons and were released. The 17-year-old driver of the vehicle and an additional 15-year-old passenger both appeared to be sober, police said, and were not charged.

Oxford couple concerned about missing gemstones

An Oxford couple told police they suspect they were the victims of a scam after not receiving gemstones they paid for.

Police said the couple reportedly paid money over a nine-month span to an international broker to secure various gemstones. After crafting an agreement to purchase the stones, the couple said communications between the parties completely ceased.

The complainants feel they may have been victimized by the broker, currently estimating their loss at more than $5,000. Police said no crime has been committed at this point, but said they will proceed with the investigation should the couple fail to receive the final gemstones they have paid for.

Student sleeping

An 28-year-old Miami University student was charged with underage intoxication after police found him passed out on the steps to an Uptown bar.

Ramy Toma, 17241 Red Fox Trail, Bainbridge, Ohio, was reportedly curled up at the bottom of a set of stairs inside of Mac and Joe's bar. Officers said they tried repeatedly to wake Toma, noting he finally opened his eyes after an officer rubbed his sternum several times.

Toma was asked to stand, but reportedly could not do so without assistance from officers. Police said Toma's speech was unintelligible and he had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.

During a pat-down of Toma, officers said they located a set of keys, which he insisted were his phone. Toma was taken into custody and transported to Dorsey Hall, where he was issued a citation and released.