Troopers find nearly 2,000 prescription pills

12/16/2011
BLADE STAFF

FINDLAY — Highway Patrol troopers in Hancock County seized almost 2,000 prescription pills on I-75 Thursday morning.

The 999 Oxycodone pills and 1,000 Xanax pills, valued at almost $30,000, were found in a rented 2011 Toyota Yaris with Kentucky registration. Troopers stopped the vehicle southbound on I-75 about 3:15 a.m. for marked lanes and turn signal violations.

Driver Michael Vanmeter, 57, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., and passenger Nicholas Zapeda, 39, of Carroll, Ohio, were charged with possession of a controlled substance. The men are being held in the Hancock County jail.