City Man Arrested on Three Felony Drug Charges

A Fairview Street resident arrived home Thursday to discover a search under way by a slew of police officers who then arrested him on three felony charges related to methamphetamine.

North Canton Police Chief Stephan Wilder said in a press release that James Clark Haldeman, 47, was charged with trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony, Illegal manufacturing of drugs, a first-degree felony, and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Wilder reported that after a short investigation with assistance from the Jackson Township Police Department, “substantial information and facts were gathered and presented to the Canton Municipal Court Prosecutor’s Office” to obtain a search warrant for Haldeman’s home at 221 Fairview St. SE.

At about 1 p.m. Thursday, Wilder said, his department’s Special Response Team served the search warrant to further their investigation of illegal drug activity occurring at the residence.

“Officers found evidence of the manufacture and assembly of methamphetamine,” Wilder said. “Mr. Haldeman was arrested without incident when he arrived home while officers were completing their investigation and search.”

Agents from the Stark County Metropolitan Narcotics Unit also assisted at the home. No one was injured during the search.

Haldeman was booked into the Stark County Jail.