Published: July 26, 2008 10:54 pm      

Deputies say 2,002 prescription pills found at Harper Road hotel

An Ohio man faces 18 drug-related charges after Raleigh County sheriff’s deputies say they found 2,002 prescription pills in a Harper Road hotel room worth more than $45,000 on the street.

Jose L. Rivera, 29, of Lorain, Ohio, was charged with nine counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and nine counts of transporting a controlled substance into the state, Cpl. W.R. Killen said. Rivera was being held at Southern Regional Jail on $500,000 bond.

At 5:35 p.m. Friday, deputies were dispatched to a disturbance call at the Microtel Inn at 2130 Harper Road in Beckley, Killen said. While handling the call, deputies found and seized 2,002 prescription pills worth $45,101 on the street.

Killen said the pills included the painkillers propoxyphene, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, oxycodone and morphine; methylphenidate, a stimulant often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; and methadone, often used to treat narcotic withdraw and dependence.

The investigation is being handled by Killen and the TRIDENT drug task force.

Lorain is located about 30 miles west of Cleveland.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com