Charges pending after drug bust

EAST LIVERPOOL - Drug charges are pending against five people found inside a Sophia Street home during the execution of a search warrant by the Columbiana County Drug Task Force Thursday.

William D. Barrett, 65, Sophia Street, East Liverpool; Derek J. Thompson, 30, Chester Avenue, Wellsville; Khbair A. Tisdale, 44, Minerva Street, East Liverpool; Shannelle N. Romano, 28, Riverview Street, East Liverpool; and Megan N. Stofen, 30, Cleveland Avenue, East Liverpool, were all charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass after the task force, assisted by the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, executed the search warrant at 709 Sophia St., East Liverpool.

A search of the home uncovered approximately 22 grams of suspected crack cocaine and 15 grams of suspected meth. Agents also located packaging material and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking. All five suspects found in the home were charged with criminal trespass due to the residence being condemned after a previous drug task force search warrant there. Additional charges are pending lab results.

The task force was assisted in the search warrant execution by units from East Liverpool Police Department, Liverpool Township Police Department and a K-9 unit from St. Clair Township Police Department. The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lisbon, Salem, East Liverpool and Columbiana police departments assisted in the investigation.