Pair arrested after heroin sale in Norwalk

Scott Seitz2 • Apr 22, 2013 at 9:07 AM

A pair of area men were arrested Saturday night after selling heroin to a confidential informant at a Norwalk location.

Luis M. Lopez, 25, of Lorain, and Salvador Rodriguez, 40, of Elyria, are facing trafficking in drugs charges after selling heroin in the parking lot of a north-side Norwalk restaurant, Norwalk police said.

The vehicle Lopez was driving, a 2001 Ford Escape, was stopped by the state Highway Patrol in Milan a short time after the controlled buy. Troopers assisted in the investigation. The buy money ($180) was recovered. A small amount of suspected marijuana and other drug paraphernalia were seized. The vehicle is subject to forfeiture, Norwalk Police Detective Sgt. Jim Fulton said.

Lopez's girlfriend, a 27-year-old Lorain resident who owns the vehicle, and their 3-year-old daughter, were both present in the vehicle at the time of the controlled buy, Fulton added.

Luis Lopez and Salvador Rodriguez both have drug-related convictions, police said.

Lopez also sold heroin to a confidential informant in Norwalk on Wednesday, that time at the Walmart parking lot, police added.

Luis Lopez and Salvador Rodriguez were taken to the Huron County Jail to await a bond hearing.

"This is yet another continuing example of what can be accomplished when law-enforcement agencies cooperate and work together," Fulton said. "It is a pleasure to be able to work closely with a professional and well-trained agency like the Ohio State Highway Patrol. I would like to thank them for their assistance in this investigation."