Barberton Police Chief Vince Morber refused to answer questions Wednesday about how his department has dealt with a known drug house in his city.
Police records showed at least 18 calls for service over the last two years at 102 Norwood St. for possible overdoses, including people found not breathing and vomiting.
In January, Larry Bowman died after an overdose at that address. Records showed Bowman had overdoses there previously as well.
The tenant, Kathryn Morrison-Young was charged with misdemeanor permitting drug use in connection with a separate overdose that happened at her home just days later. In January, her father denied she supplied the drugs.
News 5 was able to catch up with Chief Morber at a meeting about the opioid crisis Wednesday, after several weeks of unanswered phone calls and emails.
About 100 people attended that hour and a half-long meeting at the Salvation Army on Wooster Road. They heard from city, county and state officials about what they’re doing to combat the crisis. That includes referrals to the city’s drug court and the Oriana House.
Mayor William Judge said, despite the long list of possible overdoses at 102 Norwood St., a court case proving someone supplied the drugs at that address would be hard to prove.
“An OD does not constitute that drugs are being sold there,” Mayor Judge said. “We’ve monitored that house,” adding, “What you know and what you can prove in a court of law are two different things.”
