Task force makes arrest, seizes 35 guns

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The Montgomery County Sheriff says Dwight Stargell Senior has been selling drugs and guns to undercover officers since December 2011 at his home on South Ardmore Avenue.

During the nine-month investigation, The Range Task Force says they recovered a total of 35 firearms, nine of which were stolen and three were used in a murder earlier this year.  They say they also found cocaine and marijuana.

Task force detectives served a search warrant at Stargell's home on April 19th in connection with the murder of 54-year-old Tommy Nickles.  That's when they recovered three guns used in Nickles' murder.  He was found shot to death inside a burning garage on South Main Street on April 3rd.  Investigators say the man charged with Nickles' murder, Anthony Stargell, is related to Dwight Stargell.  Anthony Stargell is facing the death penalty.

Task force officials say Dwight Stargell continued to sell guns and drugs even after that search warrant was served in April, that was, until he was arrested yesterday.

"These guns are going to criminals on the streets, it makes the citizens of Dayton uneasy and doesn't make them a real safe place for them to live," says ATF agent Scott Chard.

Stargell is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and dealing firearms without a license, among other things.  He faces up to 50 years in prison.