The Columbiana County Drug Task Force (DTF) and the East Liverpool Police Department executed a search warrant at a Blakely Street residence. The suspect named on the warrant Tysin “Ty” Gordan whose street name is “T,” originally from Columbus was not at the residence.

According to DTF Director Jesse Smith, Gordon was located at Lena’s Lounge shortly after the warrant was executed.

Gordon was detained at the establishment where agents found him to be holding in his hand a small bag of crack cocaine. Agents/officers did a quick walk through of the bar and found evidence/items indicative of drug trafficking and packaging in multiple trash cans throughout the bar including in the men’s and women’s bathrooms. Smith said what they found was what they refer as “tear-offs” which is the bags used to repackage drugs.

After the “tear-offs”, the DTF temporarily shut the bar down and waited for the owner to arrive. When he did, he gave DTF agents full consent to search the rest of the property. During the search, agents found another bag of a crack cocaine mixture under a floor mat by the rear entrance. On the rear patio entrance –where Gordon was being detained — officers found a bag of suspected fentanyl in the gravel. Smith noted it looked like it had been stashed there with gravel placed over it to conceal it.

Smith said they didn’t officially close the bar, but found enough evidence to prevent anyone from coming into it at that time. There was only one patron in the bar at the time, and he was asked to leave.

Officers also discovered approximately 40 suboxone strips and a digital scale on the patio.

Smith suspects Gordon was dealing out of the bar, but said he is unable to comment on whether the owner was involved or aware of the drugs in the bar as it remains under investigation. He did note that the owner was “incredibly cooperative” and allowed the DTF to do what they needed to do to further the investigation.

Smith said he is aware the City of East Liverpool has had issues with the business –which is known for drugs and other issues –and that the DTF is not involved in that. The DTF was searching for Gordon and found him at Lena’s. There is no connection confirmed between Gordon, the drugs and the bar at this point, but an investigation is ongoing.

There were no charges filed against Gordon at the time, but there are charges pending BCI lab results.

In total, agents/officers recovered approximately16 grams crack cocaine, approximately six grams of fentanyl, approximately 40 suboxone strips, a digital scale and other items consistent with drug trafficking and packaging throughout the bar.

Smith said that suboxone — the drug many opiate addicts are prescribed as kind of a replacement for the opiate and is a get-off-fentanyl drug — is often sold by dealers illegally because in certain amounts and for certain people it can cause a high.

“So even though it was created as a way to get off of those drugs, it is very very commonly trafficked alongside fentanyl, cocaine, meth or any common street drug,” Smith said. “It’s becoming very common now.”

Safety Service Director Bill Jones said he is very thankful that all the officers and DTF were safe during the execuation of the warrant and subsquaent search of Lena’s. He called it an attempt to get more drugs off the streets and added that law enforcement is doing a great job of cleaning up the town. He also said he couldn’t be more proud of the officers and is very thankful for the DTF.

Police Chief John Lane said [the search] is something that has been worked on for a while and it’s nice to see it coming together. He also noted that the bar has been the cause of a lot of issues, and this incident is not going to help their cause in remaining open. The city is seeking to have Lena’s liquor permit revoked by the state.

Lane also said that any bar has drugs in it, but for Lena’s Lounge there seems to be more than most.