The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Convicted felons arrested during traffic stop, drug investigation
A pair of convicted felons were among three individuals charged March 5 after a traffic violation in Lorain turned into a drug investigation, all while a toddler was in the back seat, according to a Lorain police report.
Hector Luis Rosa, 47, of Cromwell Drive in Lorain, was charged with weapons under disability, possession a defaced firearm, endangering children and obstructing official business.
The 3-year-old boy who was in the car at the time of the stop is a relative of Rosa’s.
Olivia L. Prater, 32, of Jamestown, Tennessee, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of fentanyl, identity fraud, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a drug abuse instrument.
The report said Prater was issued a citation for driving under suspension and stop light.
A 24-year-old Painfield, Indiana, man, who was a back seat passenger in the gray 2016 Toyota Corolla, was issued a summons for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 12:46 p.m. March 5, officers observed the Corolla parked behind the trash bin of a business in the 2800 block of Grove Avenue. The reporting officer said the occupants seemed to notice his presence, quickly left the area headed west on East 28th Street and ran the flashing red light at Grove Avenue and East 28th.
An officer caught up to the Corolla, which was driven by Prater, in the area of Seneca Avenue and East 28th.
According to the report, Prater initially lied about her identity and provided the identification of another woman until after she was placed under arrest.
While obtaining information from the three adults in the car, officers noticed the odor of marijuana, the report said.
An “unrolled blunt” fell
to the ground as the Painfield man exited the back seat he previously was sharing with the boy, and about 1.7 grams of marijuana was located in the pocket behind the front passenger’s seat, the report said.
Officers also located an unloaded Smith & Wesson firearm under the front passenger seat where Rosa was sitting, the report said. Serial numbers on the gun appeared to have been filed off, the report said.
A search of Prater’s purse revealed 4.7 grams of suspected heroin, 1.6 grams of suspected fentanyl, a used syringe, a bottle of sleeping pills and a total of $1,042 in cash, according to the report.
The suspected heroin and fentanyl, as well as $730 divided into two stacks of $240 and one stack of $250, was found inside a black and red change purse, but Prater claimed only the change purse and money belonged to her, the report said.
Prater, according to the report, told police the $730 was for rent and the additional $312 found inside a black wallet in the purse was her spending money.
Officers said the money divided into stacks and the sleeping pills, which are commonly used to cut heroin, are indicative of drug sales.
Through the investigation, officers learned Prater and Rosa were wanted on active warrants through the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and each were convicted felons.
The boy was released to the custody of his parents without incident.
Lorain County Jail records show Rosa and Prater are set to appear in Lorain Municipal Court on March 6.