GUERNSEY COUNTY, Ohio – Two Guernsey County men landed in the county jail following a traffic stop initiated due to a drug trafficking investigation.
The Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office stated on its social media that James Edwards, 47, of Cambridge and Chase Van Dyne, 35, also of Cambridge, were arrested January 2 after law enforcement officers allegedly found “bulk narcotics,” drug paraphernalia and money on their persons, which the suspects surrendered at the jail following the traffic stop.
The incident unfolded when Guernsey County law enforcement officials stopped a 2015 Ford Sedan the men were reportedly operating on Interstate 70 near milepost 1-77 eastbound in Cambridge.
Law enforcement officers were conducting an ongoing narcotics trafficking investigation involving the distribution of narcotics from the Columbus, Ohio area back to Guernsey County where they were allegedly being sold and distributed.
Officers seized a Felony 1 level of suspected fentanyl, a Felony 2 amount of suspected methamphetamine, along with U.S. currency and drug paraphernalia.
The men were arrested and charged as follows:
Vandyne’s Charges:
- F1 Trafficking in a Fentanyl-Related Compound
- F2 Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs
- F1 Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound
- F2 Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs
- F2 Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs
Edwards’ Charges:
- F2 Trafficking in a Fentanyl-Related Compound
- F2 Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound
Both Vandyne and Edwards were incarcerated at the Guernsey County Jail pending a formal bond hearing on their charges at the Cambridge Municipal Court. Additional charges for Vandyne and Edwards may also be added upon further investigation and at a later indictment.
Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden commended his officers for their work and warned criminals that if they bring drugs into Guernsey County, his office will prosecute them.
It’s plain and simple, if you bring drugs into this county, especially the amount of that poison which continues to ruin lives, we will come after you. My deputies know who you are and you will be caught. I don’t know how this isn’t abundantly clear at this point.
Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden
Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office K9 Jax assisted in the traffic stop
