Greensburg Daily News, Greensburg, IN

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  • (From top to bottom) Tim Ricke, Omer Ball and Brad Boyd were arrested this week on a variety of heroin-related charges stemming from a Greensburg Police Department raid on Ricke’s residence.

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September 25, 2009

GPD Raid Heroin House

Bust Yields 5 Grams, 3 Arrests

Joe Hornaday

An extensive and thorough investigation into an alleged drug dealing operation on Monfort Street ended on Wednesday when the Greensburg Police Department arrested three people.

At approximately 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the GPD and the department’s Tactical Arrest and Containment Team (TACT) executed a search warrant on the resident of Timothy Ricke, located at 618 N. Monfort Street in Greensburg. Police Chief Brian Heaton explained that the law enforcers had been very patient with the investigation before it culminated in the raid.

Once inside, the GPD officers located Ricke, 44, and two accomplices. Brad Boyd, 34, 4820 N. County Road 700 E., Hope, and Omer D. Ball, 49, 105 Race Street, Westport. About five grams of heroin were found inside the Ricke residence, Heaton said. It was clear that it had been both a place to take the drugs and purchase them, he added.

Ricke was charged with dealing a Schedule I control substance (heroin) within 1,000 feet of a family housing complex, a Class A Felony. His home is located across the street from Jerman Place Apartments. Additional charges included the possession of a narcotic drug within 1,000 feet of a family housing complex, a Class B Felony, as well as possession of a syringe, a Class D Felony, and maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D Felony.

Omer Ball was arrested and charged with: possessing a narcotic drug within 1,000 feet of a family housing complex, a Class B Felony; possession of a syringe, a Class D Felony; possession of a legend drug, a Class D Felony; and visiting a common nuisance, a Class A Misdemeanor.

Brad Boyd was arrested and charged with: possession of a narcotic drug within 1,000 feet of a family housing complex, possessing a syringe and visiting a common nuisance.

Before the raid on Ricke’s residence occurred, the GPD pulled the trigger and activated the TACT Team, which assembled quickly. Local officers who were not in the area at places like Columbus and Rushville arrived in Greensburg within 30 minutes.

“That’s dedication,” Heaton said. “You tell your family good-bye and go.”

When the police entered the home, Ball and Boyd were not immediately cooperative and did not respond to orders. In a situation like that, the police must force them to comply. Heaton pointed out that the men did not put up a fight, but simply did not adhere to police demands. After the confrontation, the men were cuffed but complained of pain. The GPD took one of them to the Decatur County Memorial Hospital, while the other one was escorted via Decatur County EMS. Both were released and subsequently arrested.

“I commend the entire department for their efforts with this case. It has been a cooperative effort from beginning to end. Everyone involved, officers and dispatchers, did an outstanding job. We will continue to be proactive in our efforts of getting drugs and those responsible for them off the streets,” Heaton said.

Mayor Gary Herbert observed the raid from a safe distance outside the residence when the GPD entered.

“I commend them on doing an outstanding job,” Herbert said. “I appreciated their hard work and dedication. They have my full support in maintaining the safety of our community.”

Ricke’s highest charge was a Class A Felony, which upon conviction carries a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail sentence of up to 50 years. Boyd and Ball’s highest charge was a Class D Felony, which carries a fine of up to $10,000 and up to three years.

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