ELYRIA — A man neighbors long suspected of selling drugs from his house was arrested on multiple drug trafficking and possession charges Wednesday following a search of his Fairlawn Avenue home, police said.
Paul Wilkins Jr.
Paul Wilkins Jr., 45, was charged with felony counts of trafficking in cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, along with felony counts of possession of a schedule four controlled substance, and possession of schedule two controlled substance, according to Elyria Police Capt. Christopher Costantino.
The trafficking charges carry a juvenile specification with them due to the fact Wilkins’ 4-year-old son was present in the house during the time his father was engaged in drug sales, Costantino said.
Wilkins, who police said has an extensive record of drug-related charges and has been convicted on some of those charges, was on bond from other drug offenses when he was arrested Thursday after police executed a search warrant at his residence.
The arrest followed a months-long investigation into Wilkins’ alleged drug dealings.
“We received daily complaints from neighbors in terms of drug trafficking from the address,” Costantino said. “This guy was a neighborhood drug dealer who was a nuisance to the neighborhood due to the constant traffic in and out.”
Wilkins’ house was searched about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday by Elyria police narcotics detectives, a police special response team, and a K-9 loaned by Oberlin police.
Elyria police currently do not have their own K-9, Costantino said.
Wilkins was arrested without incident. Another man in the house at the time was questioned and later released.
Wilkins’ son was released to family members and Lorain County Children’s Services was notified.
Police confiscated 2.5 grams of heroin, 10.1 grams of cocaine, and 40.3 grams of marijuana during the search, according to Costantino, who said an amount of money was also taken into custody.
Costantino credited neighbors with being vigilant, observant and reporting their concerns to police.
“They were spot-on with his goings-on,” Costantino said.
Wilkins has an extensive police record dating to the early 1990s, according to Elyria Municipal Court records, including disorderly conduct, aggravated menacing, robbery, assault, domestic violence, and drug trafficking.
According to Lorain County Common Pleas Court records, Wilkins was free on bond for drug trafficking and possession of drug charges for which he was indicted in June 2015.
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