NEWS

Police: Home invasion turned into a drug bust

Brett Milam, and Amir Samarghandi
Cincinnati
Items collected from a Newtown home by police

A Newtown home police were investigating for suspected drug activities was burglarized early Sunday morning, police said.

Newtown Police responded to a burglary in progress with a hostage just after 1:30 a.m. on Church Street, a news release said.

Police said the homeowner was pistol-whipped, with multiple items stolen from the home, but that three of the five suspects associated with the incident were arrested at the scene.

"This is a case where the bad guys beat us (police) to the house," Chief Tom Synan said in the release. "The bad guys in this case actually helped the police in collecting evidence of an alleged drug trafficking event."

On Monday afternoon, police charged Devonte Willie Rudle Kaetzel, 18, Elijah Dayshon Phillips, 19, and Isiah Kelley Johnson, 18, in connection with the home invasion, according to the release.

The fourth suspect, Kuki Ragab Karim, 19, turned himself into police late Monday afternoon. The fifth, Jason Adam Newell Jr., 19, turned himself into police early Wednesday morning, according to police.

Police said they believe the home was targeted due to the presence of drugs and money at the location. Several hundred grams of marijuana and other drug items were recovered from the original burglary.

Due to those drug allegations, the police already had an investigation into the house ongoing. After the burglary, the Newtown Police issued a search warrant on the property, where drugs and drug paraphernalia were found, police said.

Stemming from that search, the occupants of the home, Theresa Crosby, 52, and Connor Crosby, 19, were charged with permitting drug abuse and drug trafficking, respectively, according to the release.

Items collected by police from a Newtown home

Kaetzel was charged with complicity to commit aggravated burglary and complicity to commit aggravated robbery. Phillips was charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, felonious assault and kidnapping.

Johnson was charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery. Karim was charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. Newell was charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, felonious assault and kidnapping.