Drug case fugitive turns up in Noble County

ZANESVILLE – A 34-year-old man wanted on major drug charges has been arrested in Noble County.

Wesley R. Newman had been at large since the beginning of June after he evaded arrest during two drug raids on Pine and Baker streets.

Detectives took Newman into custody on Sunday on Interstate 77 in Noble County; they had located him in a vehicle driven by an unnamed female associated with the investigation. Newman reportedly had a large amount of drugs and an unspecified amount of cash in his possession, according to the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office.

Throughout the investigation, detectives with the sheriff’s office also took into custody a male suspected in a Dec. 13 burglary and assault on Adamsville Road. Investigators say the suspect was associated with Newman.

During that December incident, the suspect assaulted the homeowner and displayed a weapon, Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said.

He was arrested on a warrant for a parole violation at 12:50 p.m. Monday in Washington County, Lutz said. Authorities are waiting to release his name until he is officially charged.

Newman has already been indicted on multiple drug counts, most with major drug offender specifications. He was wanted in connection with a drug investigation that netted six arrests in early June.

Zanesville police and the sheriff’s office raided two homes on Baker and Pine streets, seizing 600 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, 7 grams of heroin, $12,000 in cash, and five vehicles. The street value of all narcotics seized exceeds $120,000, officials reported.

Newman, of 2006 Blue Ave., faces two counts of trafficking in cocaine, first-degree felonies, and one third-degree felony of trafficking in cocaine. One of the first-degree felonies comes with a major drug offender specification, which adds prison time onto a potential conviction.

The six other suspects in the drug raids have all pleaded not guilty.

elagatta@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

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Twitter: @EricLagatta