‘Flock’ license plate reader cameras lead Niles police to drug bust during traffic stop

The use of the Niles police “Flock” license plate reader cameras was responsible for a possible drug arrest and identification of a stolen vehicle early Monday morning.

According to the police report, patrol officers were dispatched to Vienna Avenue and Linden Avenue after a “flock hit” was made on a stolen brown Ford-150 pickup truck that officers located at a gas pump at the Speedway on Vienna Avenue about 12:45 a.m.

Who was arrested?

Officers arrested the driver, identified as a 35-year-old Youngstown man, who was found inside the convenience store and confirmed he was driving the truck. The man said he was using the truck to move some scrap out of his yard.

A search of the truck netted $605 in cash, plus plastic bags containing white chalklike substances, a tan powder substance, rock-like and crystal-like substances, and a tan chip-like substance. The substances will be submitted to Ohio BCI for testing and drug possession charges were pending.

One 40-year-old passenger from Youngstown was found with hyperdermic needles on his person, the report stated. The man was charged with possession of drug abuse instruments, while Burgess is facing receiving stolen property charges.

The report stated the Ford truck was owned by a Newton Falls man.