Law enforcement blitz results in nearly 100 arrests

A concentrated law enforcement blitz by 16 agencies in Lucas and Wood counties Wednesday and Thursday resulted in numerous arrests, recovered stolen vehicles, weapons, drugs, and cash, and generally had a calming effect on Toledo.

“I can tell you it’s been very quiet on the streets of the city of Toledo in the last couple days,” said Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs. “I don’t think we’ve had a shooting in the last couple days so it had a strong impact — a very strong impact.”

Staff Lt. John Altman of the Ohio Highway Patrol said “Operation Shield,” as the effort was dubbed, focused on traffic stops throughout the metropolitan Toledo area that in many cases led to useful investigatory information.

In all, officers stopped 665 vehicles, issued 205 citations, made 47 misdemeanor drug arrests, 49 felony drug arrests, seized suspected marijuana, prescription pills, liquid codeine, heroin, and crack cocaine, recovered four stolen cars and eight guns.

Of note, Lieutenant Altman said, Lake Township Police seized $57,000 cash in one traffic stop, and the Ohio Highway Patrol recovered more than a pound of suspected hydroponic marijuana in another stop.