Oxford police say the arrests are all part of an ongoing, monthslong investigation
OXFORD, Ohio - For the second time in a week, Oxford police arrested a suspect during a drug bust near Miami University , according to police and court records.
Michael Verlinden Jr., 22, faces multiple counts of complicity to drug trafficking. He was taken into custody Thursday during a drug raid on East Walnut Street, police confirm, and booked into the Butler County Jail by 6 p.m. His arraignment will be via video from the jail on Friday morning, Butler County Area I Court officials tell FOX19 NOW.
Verlinden’s case is connected to the arrest one week ago of a Miami University student caught with cocaine by U.S. postal inspectors, court records reveal. Will Esler, 22, was charged on Friday, May 8, with possession of a controlled substance and drug trafficking. U.S. Postal Inspectors searched his home near the university in the 200 block of South College Avenue, according to police.
The investigation led to Verlinden being the suspect who picked up a package of 30 grams of cocaine shipped to Esler, Verlinden’s criminal complaint states. Police signed complicity to drug trafficking charges on Verlinden earlier this week and filed his criminal complaint in Area I Court in Oxford on Thursday, a copy shows. It alleges Verlinden picked up the package around lunchtime on May 8 and “ran through an alley towards the rear of the building, meeting up with Esler.
”Police say they read Verlinden his Miranda rights and said he agreed to talk to a police officer without an attorney present, according to his criminal complaint. When police asked him what he believed was in the package, he responded, according to the court record, “that he assumed drugs and stated ‘my guess would be cocaine, molly and Xanax’.
”When police downloaded it, they said they discovered “numerous messages between numerous people contacting Verlinden in reference to purchasing drugs or finding people to purchase drugs from,” according to the criminal complaint.
“There are communications between Verlinden and Esler about purchasing drugs off of the dark web and having the drugs sent to Esler’s residence,” police wrote. New report shows progress in effort to reduce Lake Erie algal blooms2 dead after plane hits Akron home
Fox19 19 Fox News Channel Cincinnati FOX 19 Channel 19 News Miami University Ohio College Student Arrested College Student Arrested For Drug Trafficking South College Avenue Oxford Police Department Butler County Jail Drug Investigation Second Bust Near Miami U In A Week Reveals Drugs B Drugs In Oxford And Around Miami University Oxford Police Dismantle Drug Flow Near Miami U Michael Verlinden Jr Will Esler Men Arrested In Drug Busts Near Miami
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