MARTINS FERRY — The Belmont County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference Friday, detailing multiple drug-related arrests made in Martins Ferry within the past few days.

Detectives with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Criminal Interdiction Unit, which is a part of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigation Commission, received assistance from the Martins Ferry, Bellaire and Bridgeport police departments to serve three separate search warrants. The warrants were issued between Wednesday and Friday. From those three search warrants, officers reportedly found a variety of drugs, guns and drug paraphernalia, which led to numerous arrests. Those arrested face criminal charges ranging from drug trafficking, possession of a Schedule 1 drug, possession of criminal tools and permitting drug abuse to endangering children and having weapons under disability (as a prohibited person).

“In regards to the children involved in the house, we take these cases very seriously, my Criminal Interdiction Unit and the Ohio Organized Crime that backs us and helps us out. This was all done by mutual corporation investigation between Martins Ferry Police Department, Bellaire Police Department and Bridgeport Police Department working in unity and going after this,” Belmont County Sheriff Dave Lucas said. “Even though it was in Martins Ferry, we’re all working together as a team as one unit. If we take them out of the circle, that’s better for all of us in Belmont County.”

Those arrested were: Amber Barry, 32, of Bridgeport; William White, 40, of Bridgeport; Demarcus Hockett, 34, of Martins Ferry; Tashay Cornell, 23, of Canton, Ohio; Myriah Dunn, 25, of Bellaire; Myles Edmond-Wright, 26, of Bellaire; Monte Lyles, 26, of Steubenville; Deanna Spoon, 25, of Bridgeport; and James Behrens, 52, of Bellaire.

“All I can say is we’re going to stay steadfast on the drug trafficking in Belmont County.

I’ve always said in the past to the drug dealers to pack your bags and get out of Belmont County, and we’re going to continue,” Lucas said.

He also thanked all of the police departments in Belmont County for always having a positive working relationship together.

“It’s no different than my Special Response Team — it’s all of the police departments in Belmont County, from Barnesville to all of the police departments on the riverfront working together to combat this,” he said.

Lucas proceeded to offer a stern warning to drug dealers looking to potentially set up shop in Belmont County,

“When these new drug dealers come into Belmont County, my guys are going to be on them and we’re going to combat this,” he said. “Go someplace else to do your drug dealing.”

Lucas shifted gears to speak about the children living in the homes where the arrests occurred. He referred to a recent incident in which a 1-year-old received a fatal dose of fentanyl.

“You got these people doing the drug dealing with the drugs in the house where the kids are at, that’s child abuse. We take that very seriously, and as soon as we get into a residency that has children we immediately call Job and Family Services,” Lucas said. “Our major protection is to take care of the kids because they can’t take care of themselves.”

A news release issued by the department states that multiple other people are expected to be charged as a part of this investigation.