By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
So much for knocking off work early on Friday, Bucyrus police had a busy but productive afternoon heading into the weekend.
One man turned a little legal problem into a big one Friday afternoon. Responding to a call his department received about a shoplifter at CVS in Bucyrus. Police Chief David Kopke responded on foot from City Hall and Officer Curt Bursby answered the call while out on patrol.
Koepke arrived first and confronted Jacob Lawrence. According to Koepke, Lawrence not only resisted his attempt to make an arrest, but also assaulted the Bucyrus police chief. Koepke was injured in the incident and required stitches at Bucyrus Community Hospital.
Lawrence was taken into custody by Officer Bursby at a home on South Walnut Street. Instead of shoplifting, Lawrence is now possibly facing felony robbery.
Later that same afternoon the Bucyrus Police Department made the most of a search warrant on Friday afternoon and left a West Charles Street house with drugs, cash and two arrests.
Koepke said the search warrant was executed around 4 o’clock Friday afternoon. In executing the search warrant, officers found and seized what is believed to be heroin and crack cocaine as well as an undetermined amount of cash. Also taken from the scene were two safes which Koepke believes will contain additional evidence.
Two females, Shannon Flora and Jessica Meyers were arrested as uncharged subjects during the search. Koepke said charges will be formally filed as soon as all the evidence is properly evaluated.
Authorities also removed an 11-year-old child from the home.