Mentor man accused of selling cocaine

A 26-year-old sex offender was arrested for alleged cocaine trafficking after being spotted by an off-duty Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

According to Mentor police, the off-duty deputy saw what he believed to be two drug transactions near Heisley Road. Mentor Municipal Court records indicate it happened April 21.

The alleged seller was in a Mercedes Benz entering state Route 2 westbound. The deputy contacted the Mentor emergency dispatch center. Officers stopped the vehicle and called Officer Bill Mackey and K-9 Bo to the scene.

Tier 2 sex offender and parolee Toriano Smith, whose address is listed in court documents as 4733 Brookside Road in Mentor, was ultimately arrested.

With the help of Bo, the officers located over an ounce of suspected cocaine in Smith’s vehicle.

The amount of cocaine resulted in a first-degree felony trafficking charge. He also was charged with fifth-degree felony possession of criminal tools, according to Mentor Municipal Court records.

Smith’s telephone and cash were seized, pending forfeiture.

He’s scheduled to reappear April 27 in Mentor Municipal Court and is being held on a $110,000/10 percent cash/ surety bond.

If convicted of all three felony charges, Smith could get up to 13 years behind bars.