No resolution reached in drug, weapon case

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No resolution has been reached in the case of a man facing drug and weapons charges following a multi-agency drug raid.

Michael D. Ropp, 43, was indicted in April on two counts of having weapons while under disability and one count each of aggravated trafficking in drugs, aggravated possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance and possessing a defaced firearm in addition to multiple specifications for six of the seven charges stemming from a March 9 drug raid.

During a final pretrial conference hearing Monday in the Champaign County Common Pleas Court, the court was informed the parties had discussed a resolution to eliminate the need for a trial but had not been able to reach an agreement. A trial in the case is scheduled to start on June 27.

The court granted a request by the defense to file a motion to suppress. The motion is to be filed no later than Friday.

According to a court statement filed in the Champaign County Municipal Court, law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies responded to Ropp’s East Dallas Road residence to execute a search warrant on March 9.

As law enforcement ordered Ropp from the residence, a man identified as Ropp was seen running around the house and ignoring the commands of officers.

After Ropp was told to exit the residence, officials noticed white smoke coming from a fireplace vent for 25 minutes before Ropp exited the rear basement door with his hands up.

The Special Operations Team from the Springfield Police Division made a protective sweep of the residence as smoke filled the house making it difficult for them to breathe.

A search of the residence resulted in law enforcement seizing items, including a metal box that had something inside that had been burned to ashes, a short sawed-off shotgun with the serial number filed off, a revolver and a plastic grocery bag containing three bags of crystal material.

The grand jury indictment contends the alleged drug trafficking was committed in the vicinity of a juvenile and the having weapons while under disability charge stemmed from a previous indictment out of Greene County.

Ropp was indicted last December for felonious assault and menacing by stalking. According to the Greene County Clerk of Court’s website, the case was dismissed on March 17 after a motion to dismiss the case was filed by the state on the same day.

By Nick Walton

[email protected]

Nick Walton can be reached at 937-652-1331 Ext. 1777 or on Twitter @UDCWalton.

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