Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jul 2015
Source: Springfield News Sun (OH)
Copyright: 2015 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3490
Author: D. Anthony Botkin

BILLBOARDS BEING USED IN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HEROIN FIGHT

URBANA - Sheriff Matthew Melvin and the prosecutor's office have
teamed up to place two billboards to help get the word out about the
fight against Champaign County's heroin epidemic.

The billboards feature an anonymous hotline number to report heroin
dealers and users to the Champaign County Sheriff's Office.

"We need help from citizens," said David Rapp, a captain with the
sheriff's office. "We have had a escalation in overdoses in Champaign
County. I'm sure the statistics of the Champaign County grand jury
will show the increase."

The signs have been placed in high traffic areas for the best possible
exposure.

"One is on south (Ohio) 68 as you're heading for Clark County out of
Urbana, the other is on (Ohio) 36 east out by Walmart, which is a very
busy area here in Urbana and the county," Rapp said.

The billboards are good tools to encourage the reporting of drug and
heroin users.

"Callers can remain anonymous but if we don't know that information it
doesn't really do anything, it kind of alerts us and puts it on our
radar so we can start building a case," Rapp said.

The billboards have already led to some success in arrests and
indictments.

"We have had several calls since the billboards went up," Rapp said.
"We have been successful on arrests and obtaining indictments through
the Champaign County grand jury."

The length of time the billboards will be up is undetermined, but it
might be for a long time because of the extent of the epidemic.

"The sheriff and prosecutor's offices are small agencies and we need
the citizen's help with this epidemic," said Rapp. "These are good
crime fighting tools."

If anyone wishes to report possible drug or heroin use, they can call
937-484-1905.
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MAP posted-by: Matt