(Franklin County, OH) — Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announces the arrest of a drug trafficking suspect after a search warrant was executed at an apartment in west Columbus on Monday, March 24, 2025, where two children were present.
Detectives with the Central Ohio Violence Eradication Response Team (COVERT), working alongside the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department, began an investigation into the distribution of narcotics within Franklin County. They identified 24-year-old Kenneth Reynolds as a suspect, who detectives found to be distributing cocaine throughout the area.
After a series of undercover operations, detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at 36 Viotis Drive around 7:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24. They found 47 grams of crack cocaine, as well as approximately 109 grams of suspected cocaine, $1,799 in U.S. currency, and a loaded firearm, which was confirmed to be stolen from the city of Columbus.
Two children were present inside the residence at the time of the search. Detectives found one of the children had been preparing their lunch for school at the time, and within arm’s reach of the child was over 100 grams of cocaine, packaged inside a Dorito’s box, along with materials used in the manufacturing of narcotics.
In addition, the stolen firearm was found loaded and unsecured on a table next to the children’s backpacks – creating an immediate and severe danger to their safety.
“This level of recklessness – placing children in direct proximity to lethal drugs and unsecured, stolen firearms – is both disturbing and completely unacceptable,” Sheriff Baldwin said. “Our priority is protecting the most vulnerable in our communities, and this case underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to eliminate violence an drug trafficking in Franklin County.”
Reynolds was arrested and charged with Possession of Cocaine. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are expected to be filed in coordination with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.