Columbus and Bartholomew County authorities believe they have made an arrest that will get to the source of bad heroin in the community that is causing overdoses.

Last night the county Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, the federal DEA and the Columbus police community policing unit served a search warrant on a residence in the 300 block of Hope Avenue. Investigators found about five grams of what they believe to be bad heroin and added that to another nine grams found during the investigation, says Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the county sheriff’s department.

The bad heroin is cut with ingredients like powerful painkillers that increase the likelihood of a drug overdose. Although there have been many overdoses, no one in Bartholomew County has died from the recent surge of bad heroin, authorities say.

22-year-old Christopher P. Rees of Columbus is facing preliminary charges of dealing and possessing, while 21-year-old Andrew C. Ash of Columbus and 22-year-old Corey B. Hofelich are both facing preliminary charges of possession of heroin.

Other charges include:

• Rees — Possession of marijuana,and maintaining a common nuisance.
• Ash — possession of paraphernalia, and maintaining a common nuisance.
• Hofelich — Possession of a legend injection device, possession of paraphernalia and visiting a common nuisance.

The charges could be enhanced because the location is within 1,000 feet of Foundation for Youth. The investigation continues and more arrests are expected, Jackson said.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Task Force is a combined unit of sheriff’s deputies, Columbus police and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office targeting drugs in the community.