CLARKSBURG, WV — Tyrell Silas Askerneese, 46, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was arrested in St. Clairsville, Ohio, following a major drug bust involving large quantities of narcotics and firearms.
According to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, the arrest occurred on July 26 after law enforcement executed a search warrant at a storage unit in Belmont County. The operation, led by the Belmont County Criminal Interdiction Unit, uncovered over 450 grams of cocaine, bulk amounts of suspected fentanyl and ecstasy, three firearms, and $3,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
Askerneese faces multiple felony charges, including trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine, and three counts of having weapons under disability. Under Ohio law, he is classified as a major drug offender and is legally barred from possessing firearms.
Although he was not present at the time of the storage unit raid, investigators located Askerneese at a nearby business and took him into custody without incident.
The investigation and arrest were carried out by a joint task force including the Belmont County Criminal Interdiction Unit, the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, the Belmont County road patrol units, and the St. Clairsville Police Department.
Askerneese remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
