A Hamilton County (Ohio) sheriff’s deputy is on paid leave amid his wife’s prostitution and drug allegations, according Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mike Robinson.
Elizabeth Erpelding, 32, faces prostitution and drug charges, according to court documents. She was arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on Wednesday.
Officials said they found drugs and drug abuse instruments stored in Erpelding’s closet.
Court documents also state that Erpelding did engage in sexual activity with a confidential informant for $185.
WLWT spoke with the mother of the two sisters, who said heroin is to blame for all of the problems.
Neighbors said they always had their suspicions.
They told WLWT different men would show up at the house, so investigators were tipped off. Neighbors said they didn’t’ want to show their faces on camera for fear of retaliation.
“It was always men and they were driving up. They would go inside for 30 to 45 minutes then they were gone,” said one concerned neighbor. “This is the day that we’ve waited for, for them to get broken up and for it to be out of our neighborhood — maybe even he would move away.
Sgt. James Erpelding, Elizabeth Erpelding’s husband, is on paid leave, Robinson said. Officials said James Erpelding works with the department in the corrections division.
The Sheriff’s Department is looking to see if Deputy Erpelding is involved or what he knew.