Racial vandalism pair charged in sting

Couple whose home was defaced arrested on drug charges.

A MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS — Middleburg Heights couple who gained widespread coverage and support after racially charged language was spray-painted on their home were arrested Monday afternoon on drug charges, police said.

Dawn and Carlos Berry are both charged with drug trafficking, Parma Heights police said. The couple remained in the Parma city jail ahead of their initial appearance in Parma Municipal Court on Tuesday morning.

Investigators said a criminal informant told Parma Heights police that Dawn and Carlos Berry sold drugs and guns from their twostory Middleburg Heights home, police said.

Authorities began an investigation and contacted the couple to purchase a gun and drugs. Investigators bought a gun and some drugs from the couple at their home, police said.

Dawn and Carlos Berry were both present at the time of the sale, officials said. Investigators conducted a search warrant Monday at about 5 p.m. and recovered drug paraphernalia, police said.

Investigators did not offer a timeline of events leading to the arrest but said they’ve been working on the case for several weeks. Police did not release any additional details about the type or quantity of drugs they’re accused of selling.

The couple were placed in custody just before the search warrant was initiated, investigators said.

In June the interracial couple said their home was vandalized for the last several years after vandals subjected them to violent burglaries and possible hate crimes. Police have raised some skepticism about the couple’s claims.

Someone spray-painted two swastikas on the family’s garage and vinyl siding. Repeated phrases of “white only,” “n——s,” “get out,” “u don’t belong here,” “KKK” and “f—k you” covered each side of the home.

The family’s 2011 Ford Expedition was torched in another incident as it sat in the driveway.

Parma Heights investigators don’t think the drug and gun cases are related to the racial slurs and vandalism done to the Berrys’ home.

JUSTIN MADDEN / CLEVELAND.COM In June, Dawn and Carlos Berry said their home in Middleburg Heights was vandalized for years amid possible hate crimes and targeting by burglars.