Two Akron-area residents arrested for possession of fentanyl | News, Sports, Jobs

Imani Ruiz

Two Akron area residents were arrested last week in Marietta for possession of nearly 7 grams of fentanyl.

Officers with the Southeast Ohio Major Crimes Task Force conducted a traffic stop June 14 in the 100 block of Gross Street in Pioneer Township in Marietta, during which they detected a smell of burnt marijuana, according to a press release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office:

The driver, William O'Bannon Vandkye III, 33, Akron, consented to a search of the vehicle, during which officers found 6.7 grams of suspected fentanyl in the groin area of ​​the vehicle's passenger who told officers that Vandyke told him to keep the drugs as they were being arrested, the release states.

Officers questioned Vandyke about the drugs and, according to the release, he said it only amounted to about 7 grams and was not worth the officers' time.

Vandyke was arrested and charged with one count of third-degree drug trafficking and the passenger, Imani Denesia Ruiz, 29, of Tallmadge, Ohio, was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking third-degree drug trafficking and one count of third-degree drug trafficking. count of possession of fentanyl, the release said.

William Vandyke

Vandyke and Ruiz both appeared in Marietta Municipal Court and were each being held on $25,000 bail, according to the release.