WHEELING, W.Va. — The Wheeling Police Department says seven people were arrested and multiple controlled substances were seized during a special enforcement operation earlier in Jan. targeting drug activity in public housing complexes.
The operation took place Jan. 16–18 and was launched after police received several online complaints from residents about suspected drug activity at the Booker T. Apartments. Plainclothes officers conducted surveillance and traffic enforcement, which led to the execution of two residential search warrants.
As a result of the investigation, officers arrested the following individuals:
- Michael Anthony Works, 40, of Wheeling, charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs
- Alexander Thomas Lichwa, 33, of Wheeling, charged with possession of methamphetamine
- Alex Jeremiah Davis, 34, of Wheeling, charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute drugs
- Wilma June Riffle, 53, of Wheeling, charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs
- Niki Brianna Bradley, 46, of Wheeling, charged with possession with intent to deliver buprenorphine and conspiracy to distribute drugs
- Donald Steven Richardson, 52, of Wheeling, charged with maintaining a drug premise
- Bryanna Denae Shepherd, 37, of Wheeling, charged as a fugitive from justice from Belmont County, Ohio, and on a petit larceny warrant from Ohio County, West Virginia
Police say they seized approximately 126 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of suspected heroin, 43 dosage units of buprenorphine, and 16 dosage units of alprazolam during the operation.
The Wheeling Police Department credited resident tips for prompting the investigation and thanked the Wheeling Housing Authority for its assistance and cooperation.
