Man arrested after month-long drug investigation

Charged with trafficking fentanyl

A 25-year-old Cleveland man was arrested following a month-long drug investigation in Elyria.

Clarence J. Houston was charged with trafficking fentanyl, a fourth-degree felony, possession of fentanyl, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, after authorities arrested him at noon Sept. 20 at 114 Portia Court, according to an Elyria police report.

The arrest was the result of a search warrant being obtained from Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Betleski due to authorities establishing probable cause that Houston was selling fentanyl out of the residence, the report said.

When police arrived Houston answered the door and was taken into custody without incident, the report said.

Police also found a 26-year-old female, who was arrested on an outstanding warrant for a parole violation out of Lake County, along with children ages 10, 8, 4 and 2, according to the report.

A search of the residence produced .2 grams of fentanyl, a 7-star cutting agent, Inositol Powder cutting agent, an iPhone 6, a ZTE flip phone, $93 in cash, a digital scale, Mannitol cutting agent, and a plastic bag of unknown powder, according to the report.

Houston and the woman were taken to Lorain County Jail. The children were released to the woman’s mother, the report said.

Houston, who is being held at Lorain County Jail on a $10,250 bond, must appear at 2 p.m. Sept. 27 before Elyria Municipal Court Judge Robert C. White.