A months-long drug investigation spilled out into the streets of Oxford on Friday when officers raided an off-campus house near Miami University and arrested a student on serious cocaine charges.
Police say the court-authorized search turned up cocaine and electronics inside the home. The student, identified in public reports as 22-year-old William (Will) Esler, was taken into custody and booked into the Butler County Jail.
Search Warrant Executed on South College Avenue
U.S. Postal Inspectors and Oxford Police officers moved in just after noon on a house in the 200 block of South College Avenue, serving a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation. Authorities reported seizing cocaine, electronics and drug paraphernalia during the search, according to FOX19. Police told the station the raid capped a probe that had stretched on for months.
Police Say More Than 27 Grams Found
Investigators told WLWT that Esler allegedly had more than 27 grams of cocaine when he was arrested and that he now faces first-degree felony counts of possession and trafficking. The station reported the arrest happened around noon and that nearby students pulled out their phones and recorded video as officers escorted people out of the house.
Neighbors Describe SWAT-Style Raid At 'Dirty South'
The Miami Student reported that the warrant was executed at 215 S. College Ave., a rental property students have nicknamed "Dirty South." Neighbors told the paper they saw a mix of marked and unmarked police vehicles and officers carrying rifles during what looked to them like a SWAT-style operation. A photo provided by the Oxford Police Department shows four men detained outside. Esler, listed by authorities as William Henry Esler, was charged at the scene and then taken to the Butler County Jail, according to The Miami Student.
Processing And Court Timeline
After the raid, Esler and three other men were brought to the Oxford Police Department for questioning before Esler was transported to the Butler County Jail, WLWT reported. The station said Esler is expected to appear in Butler County court within the next week while the broader investigation continues.
Police Ask For Tips
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case or the investigation to call Oxford Police at 513-524-5268. The arrest is tied to a probe that has been unfolding for months, according to FOX19. The bust also comes as local outlets have been sounding the alarm about a possible "dangerous batch" of cocaine circulating in the Oxford area, a concern highlighted by reporting from WCPO/Journal-News.
