Mansfield man arrested on multiple drug charges following METRICH search warrant

MANSFIELD – A 25-year-old Mansfield man was arrested Friday after the METRICH Enforcement Unit executed a drug-related search warrant at 336 Oxford Avenue.

Philip K. Moxley was charged with eight drug-related offenses after officers seized 65 grams of suspected cocaine, four grams of suspected fentanyl and other drug-related evidence, according to METRICH Unit Chief and Mansfield Police Lieutenant Steve Blust.

Mansfield police and members of the Richland County ASORT assisted in executing the search warrant signed by Mansfield Municipal Court Judge David Badnell, Blust said.

The residence is located north of West Fourth Street and west of Trimble Road.

Blust said the arrest warrant was “the result of a short-term drug trafficking investigation
conducted by the METRICH Enforcement Unit.”

Moxley was charged with two counts of first-degree felonies – trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine. He was also charged with three counts of trafficking fentanyl (fourth-degree felonies) and three counts of trafficking cocaine (fourth-degree felonies).

Blust said Moxley was being held in the Richland County Jail pending his court appearance. He said additional charges could be forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney's Office.

Blust said the investigation was a direct result of the community's continued support in reporting suspected drug activity.

Citizens can call the METRICH Crime Tip Hotline at 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or
the Task Force Hotline at 419-755-9728 or using the METRICH app.