DRUGS, BOMBS, WEAPONS, CASH FOUND IN LORAIN COUNTY

During the past week, two homes in Lorain County were raided by authorities and two homemade bombs, more than two dozen guns, over $134,000 in cash, suspected drugs and drug-making chemicals were seized. Thomas Brooks, 49, Wilma Masciarelli, 42, and Jesse Cool, 38, were arrested. Cool is charged with possession of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamines. Brooks and Masciarelli are charged with possession of methamphetamines.

A Thompson submachine gun and other weapons were taken from Brooks' home. The Lorain County Bomb Unit removed two homemade bombs, said Lorain County Drug Task Force Agent Jim Larkin.

Larkin said they believe one of the bombs was a booby trap to protect a drug-producing operation and was built to be detonated from a remote location. It was exploded at a police shooting range.

While under surveillance, 30 to 40 cars visited one house or the other each night. Sales of methamphetamines in Oberlin, Avon and Elyria were traced to the residences.

[Update 9/28/03 at 4am] From the Morning Journal, the Lorain County Drug Task Force was assisted by the Lorain County Sheriff's Department, Lorain Police narcotics bureau, Avon Lake police, Lorain County SWAT, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency and Oberlin City and Carlisle Township fire departments.

Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti stated:

. . . there have been six meth labs busted in Lorain County since November of last year. He said the labs not only cause a problem because of the crime they breed, but also because volatile chemicals are used in the manufacturing of the drugs and hazardous waste is created.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Manning stated that drugs are a growing problem in the state and added:

''This was an unusual investigation because most meth labs aren't busted by good police work. They either burst into flames or they explode.''

Fortunately, most drug labs are not located in residential areas due to the noticeable stench.