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BUCYRUS — A Galion man is facing multiple felony drug charges after a routine traffic stop in Bucyrus led to the discovery of suspected narcotics late last month.
According to police reports, officers with the Bucyrus Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Oct. 23 near the intersection of West Beal Avenue and South Sandusky Avenue for an equipment violation. During the stop, officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle, uncovering substances believed to be controlled drugs, including suspected fentanyl.
The driver, identified as Jose J. Caudillo, 32, of Galion, was taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with possession of fentanyl, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.
Following his arrest, Caudillo was booked into the Crawford County Justice Center. At his initial hearing in Crawford County Municipal Court, his bond was set at $50,000. His case is expected to be bound over to the Crawford County Grand Jury for further review.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement awaits confirmation from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) laboratory regarding the identity and weight of the seized substances.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, has been at the center of a growing public-health crisis in Ohio and across the nation. Local law enforcement agencies have reported a steady increase in fentanyl-related arrests and overdoses in the past year, prompting renewed enforcement efforts and community outreach.
Officials say traffic stops like the one leading to Caudillo’s arrest are an important part of that effort, allowing officers to intercept dangerous substances before they circulate in the community.
Caudillo remains incarcerated pending further proceedings.
