The Stark County Sheriff's Office and Canton Police are looking into Radio IDs that were stolen.
The IDs, according to the press release (below), are subscribed to the Multi-Agency Radio Communication System, or MARCS statewide emergency public radio system used by several agencies in Ohio.
Stark County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Michaela Madison says seven different search warrants were executed around Canton Monday, though it doesn't list any arrests.
Sheriff George Maier said in the release, "It is critical that we do everything to ensure the MARCS radio system is protected."
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(Canton, Ohio) – The Stark County Sheriff’s Office and Canton Police Department are conducting a joint investigation into stolen radio IDs on the MARCS Radio System. The Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) is a statewide emergency public radio system used by numerous public safety agencies in Ohio.
Authorities were notified of suspicious activity by officials with Ohio MARCS, which led investigators to execute seven search warrants in the Canton area on Monday, October 22nd, 2018 in connection to stolen radio IDs operating on the MARCS Radio System. The stolen IDs were being used to illegally program additional radios to run on the system designed for first responders. Also discovered were a number of firearms violations. Investigators are being assisted by ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) with the weapons violations. The search warrants lead to the investigation of nearly a dozen individuals.
“It is critical that we do everything to ensure the MARCS Radio system, which provides life-saving communication capabilities to our first responders, is protected,” explained Sheriff George T. Maier. “We are committed to holding those accountable who interfere with our emergency communication here in Stark County and across the state of Ohio.”
Additional search warrants are expected as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, 330-430-3800.