Mercer County Sheriff's deputies have arrested two men following a traffic stop in Marion Township that led to the discovery of approximately 85 grams of suspected methamphetamine. The arrests occurred early Tuesday morning, October 10, according to information released by Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman.
The incident began around 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, October 10, when deputies conducted a traffic stop in Marion Township. The location of the stop was specifically near the intersection of U.S. 127 and State Route 274, a juncture within Mercer County. The vehicle was initially pulled over by law enforcement officials due to an observed traffic violation, though the specific nature of this violation was not detailed by authorities.
Inside the vehicle at the time of the stop were two individuals. The driver was identified as 44-year-old Cory Gross, a resident of Celina. The passenger was 45-year-old Dustin Gross, who resides in St. Marys. Following the initial interaction with the occupants, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office personnel deployed a specialized K-9 unit to the scene of the traffic stop. The trained K-9 conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle as part of established law enforcement procedure. During this process, the K-9 unit provided a positive alert, indicating the potential presence of illegal narcotics within the vehicle.
Acting on the K-9’s confirmed alert, deputies proceeded with a comprehensive search. This search encompassed both the interior and exterior of the stopped vehicle, as well as its occupants. The subsequent search led to the discovery and seizure of a significant quantity of suspected methamphetamine. Approximately 85 grams of the suspected controlled substance were located by deputies, according to official reports from the sheriff’s office.
Following the discovery, both Cory Gross and Dustin Gross were arrested. They were transported to the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility, where they were formally booked on charges related to the incident. Both men are currently facing charges of second-degree felony possession of methamphetamine, a serious offense under Ohio law. As stated by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, both individuals are being held without the possibility of bond at this time, pending further legal action and court appearances.
The investigation leading to these arrests involved a coordinated effort among multiple local law enforcement agencies within the region. The Grand Lake Drug Task Force played a role, alongside the Celina Police Department, the Coldwater Police Department, and the St. Henry Police Department. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has also been a party to the investigation, underscoring the collaborative nature of addressing drug-related offenses in West Central Ohio.
The collected evidence and investigative findings from this case will now be formally referred to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. The prosecutor’s office will undertake a comprehensive review of the entire case file. This review process is standard procedure and will determine if there are grounds for pursuing potential additional charges against Cory Gross and Dustin Gross beyond the current felony possession charges. The legal process is ongoing as authorities continue their work on the matter.
