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Major drug arrests near Ohio Valley Mall

Photo provided Drugs seized by the Richland Township Police Department following two arrests Tuesday. Officers responded to a call about a man suffering a potential drug overdose in his vehicle at a vendor parking lot.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A call about suspicious activity at the Ohio Valley Mall resulted in arrests on two sets of drug-related charges this week.

On Tuesday, Richland Township police officers investigated a complaint at the Gabriel Brothers store at the mall. According to police reports, the officers found Donald Robert Longwell, 30, of Bellaire suffering from an apparent overdose. Police reportedly found 423 grams of methamphetamines, 22 grams of cocaine and 23 grams of fentanyl.

Longwell was transported to East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry for treatment, then to the Belmont County Jail where he was booked on charges of first degree trafficking in drugs.

During the investigation, another vehicle that had reportedly left the scene was stopped by the Belmont County Drug Interdiction Unit. Richland Township police were assisted by the interdiction unit in searching a room at an area hotel. The occupant, Charles Baker, 35, of Wheeling, was arrested and taken to the Belmont County Jail on an outstanding warrant out of Belmont County and a charge of felony possession of narcotics.

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