Men Charged With Drug Offense Play Blame Game

What first seemed to be a driving hazard, turned into something more serious.

Patrolling officers found a car broken down at I-480 west near SR 91 on June 9, with two men huddling around the car.

They said it broke down earlier in the night and they were waiting for the tow truck to arrive. Jeffrey Ward, 30, of Ravenna, said the car was his mom's and James Yates, 30, of Ravenna, was the driver because Ward's license was suspended. After police checked the database, they found both men were under suspension.

According to the police report officers said both men had "red, glossy eyes and unusually small pupils." They also noticed marks on the arms and legs of the two.

When asked if they had been using any drugs, they said they were recovering heroin addicts and had been clean for a year. They gave police permission to search the car, saying they had nothing illegal.

That was until officers say they found two hypodermic needles and a burnt spoon, with what police believed was heroin residue, on the driver's side floor. They also found a cigarettes pack with cotton filters, which police said is commonly used for preparation and use of heroin, in the center console.

Ward said the items belonged to Yates, while Yates said the opposite. He told police Ward shot up on the side of the road after the car broke down. Ward denied that and said it was all Yates.

Both men were charged with misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments and paraphernalia.