Three arrested after investigation into heroin dealing

A several-month investigation into heroin being sold in Columbus and Bartholomew County led to the arrests of three people on drug-related charges.

Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives served warrants and searched a home on Forest Drive which resulted in the arrests, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. One of the arrests is linked to a 17-year-old girl who overdosed in a shopping center parking lot in Columbus last week, Harris said.

Assisted by Columbus Police Department officers, JNET detectives arrested Joseph L. Leszcynski, 31, Columbus, on two Bartholomew County warrants for dealing a narcotic drug and possession of heroin. Leszcynski was found in a vehicle at 5:15 p.m. Monday at Central Avenue near 10th Street, Harris said.

The detectives were also able to link Cyrus P. Nida, 19, Columbus with a group of suspects who were arrested last September in Columbus, accused of bringing tainted heroin into the city and causing a rash of overdoses, Harris said. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Nida after observing him dealing narcotics in his driveway in Forest Drive, Harris said. Detectives later searched the home and he was arrested along with a 17-year-old juvenile early Tuesday morning. Detectives also recovered four grams of heroin, a handgun, a loaded shotgun, a large amount of ammunition and drug paraphernalia from the home, Harris said. Detectives linked Nida to several overdoses that have occurred in Bartholomew County, including the 17-year-old girl who overdosed in a shopping center parking lot.

Cyrus P. Nida
Cyrus P. Nida

Nida was arrested on two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug, dealing in heroin, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia, a press release said. The juvenile was arrested on charges of possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.