Special News 20 Mar 2025
Washington County, Ohio – 20 Mar 2025 Sheriff Mark Warden reports that on 19 Mar 2025, Deputies Thornberry and Wallace were on stationary patrol on I-77 when a silver van passed their location, with no visible registration. Deputies conducted a traffic stop at the 11 mile marker.
Deputies observed movement in the rear of the vehicle, so intense that dreads whipping around were clearly visible when the rear passenger turned to look back at the patrol vehicle.
The registration was a temporary tag through Ohio, however unable to be seen until deputies were outside the patrol vehicle. Deputy Wallace made contact with the driver and rear passenger, Niaire Clipper, while Deputy Thornberry met with the passenger and rear passenger, Antione Dortch.
The driver advised the vehicle was a rental. Both Dortch and Clipper advised they did not have identification, however provided their social security numbers. Deputies were advised of an active warrant for trafficking in drugs on file for Clipper, through WCSO. Clipper was removed from the vehicle and secured.
K-9 Mauser was deployed and during a free air sniff of the vehicle, indicated on the passenger side of the vehicle.
All occupants were removed and during a pat down of Dortch he was asked about a foreign object in his groin area. Dortch willingly showed his groin area by pulling his pants out to show that what deputies’ thought was foreign was actually his body part. At that time a cellophane object was observed sticking out from his groin. Dortch was again asked if he had anything else on his person.
Deputies removed 21.95 grams (total package weight (tpw)) of suspected fentanyl, contained in a clear plastic baggie, and 4.90 grams (tpw) suspected fentanyl in a blue plastic baggy. Dortch was advised of his Miranda Rights and he did not wish to speak about the drugs located.
Clipper advised deputies he had drugs on his person. Clipper was advised of his Miranda Rights and he advised the drugs were in his pants and he was attempting to assist deputies by shaking his leg to help the drugs go down his pant leg. Two baggies (one opened while being shimmied down his leg) were removed from Clipper’s pant leg. The first bag of suspected fentanyl, in a sandwich bag, contained 13.69 grams tpw and the second bag contained 5.81 grams tpw. A working scale was also located in the vehicle.
Niaire Danali Clipper, age 20, 5257 Fairland Road, Norton, OH, was placed under arrest and charged with possession of fentanyl and trafficking in drugs – fentanyl, both 2nd degree felonies. Clipper was also arrested on the active indictment from December 2024 charging him with trafficking in fentanyl and possession of fentanyl, both 2nd degree felonies.
Antione Timothy Dortch, age 19, 636 Hallie Avenue, Akron, OH, was placed under arrest and charged with possession of fentanyl and trafficking in drugs – fentanyl, both 1st degree felonies.
Dortch and Clipper appeared in Marietta Municipal Court and are both being held on $200,000 BD+PR. Their next scheduled court date is 26 Mar 2025.
