Celina Man Charged After Search Warrant Finds Cocaine And Multiple Firearms

CELINA, Ohio — A Celina man is facing felony drug and weapons charges in Mercer County Common Pleas Court following a search warrant at a Hellwarth Road residence.

Court records show Braylan A. Chrisman, 28, of 6784 Hellwarth Road, is charged in Case No. 26 CRN 022 with Possession of Cocaine, a fifth degree felony, Having Weapons While Under Disability, a third degree felony, and Illegal Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor. The alleged offenses are listed as occurring on or about March 2, 2026.

According to an affidavit filed by Sgt. John Westgerdes with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, detectives began investigating an alleged incident connected to the Hellwarth Road address on March 1. The affidavit states investigators were told Chrisman provided a victim with cocaine and an orange substance the victim believed to be Adderall at the residence. The affidavit also notes Grand Lake Task Force investigators had received intelligence indicating Chrisman was trafficking narcotics.

The affidavit says Sgt. Westgerdes obtained a search warrant for the residence and officers executed it at about 10:58 a.m. on March 2. Investigators made contact with Chrisman, his wife, and their two young children, and Chrisman allegedly told officers there was marijuana in the home and firearms in the home and his truck.

Deputies later conducted a K9 free air sniff around the truck, which the affidavit says alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the truck reportedly uncovered a loaded Baretta handgun in the center console and a keychain containing a white rock like substance that field tested positive for cocaine.

Inside the residence, investigators reported finding rolled up dollar bills containing a white powdery substance, which the affidavit describes as a method commonly used to snort cocaine. The affidavit also states Chrisman was advised of his rights and told investigators the substance located in the truck was cocaine and that he uses cocaine “every so often.”

During the search, officers also reported locating an electronic scale and additional drug paraphernalia, along with several firearms. The affidavit lists a Henry .22 rifle (serial number US277143B), a DPMS Panther AR 15 (serial number FFA005244), a Timber Creek handgun with no serial number, a Glock Model 19 (serial number BEZK293), and a SCCY CPX2 (serial number 380009). A forfeiture specification is included with the weapons while under disability charge, seeking forfeiture of the firearms listed, along with a Baretta 3032 Tomcat (serial number DDA634834).

Sgt. Westgerdes wrote that all drug related items and firearms were seized. The affidavit also states that as Chrisman was taken into custody, he said he, not his wife, would take responsibility for everything that was located. Chrisman was booked into the Mercer County Detention Facility.