MANSFIELD — A Mansfield City Schools employee was arrested Aug. 3 after an indictment was filed in June for drug trafficking in the vicinity of a school zone, according to Richland County Common Pleas Court records.
That arrest was part of a METRICH drug sweep that targeted 48 drug dealers, Mansfield Police chief Ken Coontz said. In June, according to authorities, Robert Anthony Summers sold undercover METRICH detectives prescription pills on Shelby Central Elementary School grounds.
A message left for Regina Griffith, the attorney representing Summers, was not returned by the time of publication.
Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page said aggravated trafficking in drugs charges are usually associated with illicit sale of prescription drugs.
“He was selling oxycontin,” Couch Page said.
Oxycontin is a pharmaceutical drug used for pain relief.
Before his arrest, Summers worked at the Mansfield Senior High and Middle School building. He was hired Oct. 7, 2013 with Mansfield City Schools.
Superintendent Brian Garverick said Summers has been suspended from work with the schools until he knows more about the situation. Classes for Mansfield City Schools begin Wednesday, Aug. 17.
“As of right now, we don’t have any plans (to fire Summers),” Garverick said, adding the janitor has been placed on paid administrative leave.
According to Richland County Sheriff’s Office records, Summers, 36, was served an arrest warrant at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3. He was then transported to the Richland County jail on an aggravated trafficking in drugs on school grounds charge, a third-degree felony.
Court records do not show prior criminal charges. His bond of $5,000 was posted and he was released the same day.
Summers will appear before Judge James DeWeese on Tuesday, Aug. 23 for a pretrial hearing.
