First Posted: 3/19/2015
SIDNEY — A Sidney man was arrested on drug charges following the execution of a narcotics search warrant at his residence Thursday morning.
Eric R. Pellman, 41, of 504 N. Main St., was charged with one count of possession of cocaine, one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of criminal tools. A second person at the residence, James Livingston, 37, of Dayton, was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant from Sidney Municipal Court for disorderly conduct and criminal damage.
This is the second time in this month that Pellman has been involved with law enforcement.
Pellman was the driver of a vehicle on Interstate 75 on March 9 when his vehicle veered off the west side of the roadway, struck a sound barrier wall and the end of a guardrail at which point his vehicle overturned.
Phillip W. Smith II, 33, of Troy, formerly of Sidney, was killed in the accident. The Piqua Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol investigated the accident.
According to Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Piqua Post Sgt. David Robison, officers are still waiting on toxicology lab results from the accident. Robison said results may take up to four weeks to be released.
Pellman and Livingston are scheduled to appear in Sidney Municipal Court on Friday morning.
According to a release from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the department’s Special Response Team assisted by the Sidney Police Tactical Response Team executed the warrant at the North Main Street address. Both men were taken to the Shelby County Jail.
“The investigation comes as a result of citizen complaints of drug activity at the residence,” said Sheriff John Lenhart in the release. “Further charges are pending as the matter remains under investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit.
“Community involvement in combating the drug problem in our communities is paramount,” said Lenhart. “I continue to urge the public to contact my office with their concerns in the future.”
