Two local residents have been arrested on multiple drug-related charges including dealing in heroin after they were stopped in a car Tuesday night.
The arrests were part of a lengthy investigation conducted by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
After receiving several anonymous tips and interviewing multiple witnesses and overdose victims, JNET detectives identified Matthew “Matty” Zook, 34, Columbus, as a large-scale heroin dealer in the Bartholomew County area, Harris said.
Detectives believed Zook was driving to the Cincinnati area to purchase heroin Tuesday and saw him traveling on County Road 800N, stopping the vehicle after seeing a traffic violation, Harris said. A Bartholomew County canine alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.
More than 34 grams of heroin, as well as two grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, Suboxone strips, drug paraphernalia, money and a handgun were also found in the vehicle, Harris said.
Zook was arrested on charges of dealing in heroin, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a handgun without a permit, Harris said.
A passenger, Tasha L. Barnes, 34, Columbus, was arrested on charges of dealing in heroin, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, Harris said.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
