Investigators say a pair of Akron men turned two vacant Copley Township lots into a dumping ground for household trash, carpet, furniture, and construction debris, and now they are facing criminal charges.
According to state investigators, one of the vacant properties belongs to one of the suspects. The other, used repeatedly as a dumping spot, sits near homes, a playground, and nearby wetlands. When search warrants were executed earlier this year, investigators reported finding burned materials buried on the land.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the case Friday and credited local enforcement for using new tools to catch alleged dumpers, saying, “We have shined a light on this dumper,” according to Cleveland 19. The outlet identifies the landowner as DeShawn Dixon, 47, of Akron. He faces charges that include open burning and dumping of solid waste, operating a solid-waste facility without a license, illegal disposal of construction and demolition debris, and tampering with evidence. Cleveland 19 reports that 34-year-old Zachary Dupert of Akron and his business, SOS Junk Removal, are charged with open dumping of solid waste and illegal disposal of construction and demolition debris.
Shine a Light grants funded equipment
The allegations surfaced after Copley Township tapped grant money from the Attorney General’s “Shine a Light on Dumpers” initiative to buy equipment meant to deter illegal dumping. The Attorney General’s office lists Copley Township as a 2025 equipment grant recipient, with municipalities allowed to use the funds for cameras and barriers to prevent future dumping, according to the Attorney General's office. The statewide program has continued into 2026 with another round of grants, training, and application resources for local officials.
Search warrants and surveillance footage
In February, investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation carried out search warrants on the properties and reported finding household trash, carpet, furniture, and burned material buried underground, according to Cleveland 19. The outlet adds that surveillance cameras installed with the grant money later captured trucks linked to SOS Junk Removal visiting the lots. Residents and officials told reporters that firefighters have been called to the locations several times in recent years to put out open burns.
Legal implications
The accusations fall under Ohio’s solid-waste laws, which prohibit open dumping and open burning and regulate how construction-and-demolition debris must be handled. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3734 spells out those prohibitions and grants state and local authorities enforcement and cleanup powers, including potential criminal and civil penalties for illegal disposal. Prosecutors will review the evidence gathered by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Attorney General’s environmental unit before deciding on next steps.
What comes next
The Attorney General’s office announced the case on June 5, 2026. No court dates had been reported at that time, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The “Shine a Light on Dumpers” initiative provides grant application materials, reporting contacts, and training for officials and residents, information that is available on the office’s environmental page at the Attorney General’s site. Summit County prosecutors or local law enforcement are expected to handle arraignments and any future court proceedings as the case moves forward.
