CHILLICOTHE, OH — A Columbus man is facing felony drug charges after Chillicothe police and SWAT officers executed a search warrant at a Deerpath Road residence Friday afternoon, uncovering cocaine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
On August 8, at around 4 p.m., the Chillicothe Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team assisted detectives in serving a high-risk, no-knock search warrant at 8 Deerpath Road. The warrant, approved earlier in the day by Judge Keith Washburn, was part of an ongoing investigation into suspected drug trafficking.
According to police, the main target of the operation, Dijon Leeper, was located in the kitchen when officers entered. Another man, Brent Hayes, emerged from a bedroom and was detained without incident. No other individuals were found inside.
During a search of Leeper, detectives recovered $592 in cash — including $450 in marked bills previously used in a controlled drug buy — as well as a prescription bottle with the label removed containing unidentified pills.
A search of the residence uncovered:
- Approximately 27.5 grams of cocaine in a bag found in the kitchen.
- Approximately 16 grams of fentanyl hidden inside a Sour Patch Kids candy bag in the living room.
- A Pyrex container and butter knife with white residue, a digital scale, and other items associated with converting powder cocaine into crack cocaine.
- Multiple items of drug paraphernalia including pipes, burnt foil, and syringes.
Leeper, who has a prior felony drug possession conviction in Ross County, was arrested and booked into the Ross County Jail on charges of first-degree felony possession of cocaine and second-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound.
Police say additional charges, including permitting drug abuse, may be filed against the homeowner, identified as Brittany Hayes, who was not at the residence during the raid.
The seized drugs will be sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for further analysis. The case remains under investigation.
