Cocaine in Doritos box found near child at west Columbus apartment, deputies say
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — More than 100 grams of cocaine packaged in a Doritos box and a gun were found within the reach of children inside a west Columbus apartment on Monday, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
An investigation into the distribution of narcotics by the Central Ohio Violence Eradication Response Team led law enforcement to a home on Viotis Drive.
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During a search warrant on Monday, detectives found 47 grams of crack cocaine, about 109 grams of suspected cocaine, nearly $1,800 and a loaded gun that was stolen from the city of Columbus, authorities said.
There were two children home at the time of the search. About 100 grams of cocaine in a Doritos box was seen within arm's reach of a child who was preparing their lunch for school, according to a news release.
The stolen gun was reportedly unsecured on a table next to the children's backpacks.
'This level of recklessness — placing children in direct proximity to lethal drugs and unsecured, stolen firearms — is both disturbing and completely unacceptable,' Sheriff Dallas Baldwin said in a statement.
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Kenneth Reynolds, 24, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, and additional charges are expected as the investigation continues, according to the sheriff's office.
'Our priority is protecting the most vulnerable in our communities, and this case underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to eliminate violence and drug trafficking in Franklin County,' Baldwin said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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