Ohio Man That Exposed Cop To Fentanyl Sentenced

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH — Justin Buckel will spend six and a half years in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer with fentanyl, a synthetic heroin. The officer survived but only after he was revived four times with naloxone.

In May 2017, Buckel was stopped by East Liverpool police officer Chris Green. The officer followed protocol, searching the car while wearing gloves and a mask. After finishing his search though, Green took off his gloves and then noticed a powder on his shirt. He instinctively touched it.

"Fentanyl is so dangerous that even the slightest exposure can be deadly, but thankfully in this case naloxone was close at hand," said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in a statement. "We are serious about holding drug traffickers responsible for bringing this poison into our neighborhoods."

Four doses of naloxone, an overdose antidote, had to be administered to save Green's life.

Buckel was arrested as part of Operation Big Oak, a coordinated investigation into Columbiana County drug trafficking that led to the arrest of 100 suspects. The 25-year-old was one of the 100 people charged with taking part in a large-scale fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, and cocaine trafficking ring.

DeWine's office said the accused drug traffickers allegedly brought in one million potentially fatal doses of carfentanil, and approximately 350,000 potentially fatal doses of fentanyl, into Columbiana County alone. The ring allegedly operated between Cuyahoga and Columbiana counties, between 2014 and late 2017.

“The amount of fentanyl and carfentanil that this drug trafficking organization allegedly brought to this area was enough to kill every single person in Columbiana County, plus every man, woman, and child in 11 other nearby counties,” said DeWine after indictments went out in Nov. 2017.

Buckel was also charged with tampering with evidence, aggravated possession of drugs, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in heroin, aggravated trafficking in drugs and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Two of the accused ringleaders of the drug trafficking ring, Allen Jackson, 26, of Cleveland, and Anthony Jackson, 30, of Cleveland Heights, are still wanted on charges connected to the case. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Allen Jackson or Anthony Jackson should contact the Columbiana County Drug Task Force at 330-424-0309.

Photo from Attorney General's Office