Denzil Copen owns Poppy's Restaurant and Pizzeria on Main Street in Fairview. The police say his disagreeable behavior and complaints from the public sparked an investigation leading to the discovery of his by-mail drug purchases.

A team of police departments, including Fairview, Grant Town, Rivesville, Barracksville, and Farmington has been waiting for a delivery.

A delivery for this man - Denzil Copen. Authorities believe Copen has been working with someone in Florida, sending and receiving money and prescription pills like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and percoset.

Chief Earnest Triplett of the Fairview Police Department has been working on the case since he was sworn in on February 10th. He says reports from the public prompted him to dig deeper.

"I called Charles Gerhart, U.S. Postal Inspector," explained Triplett. "He came in, done some research, liked what he found, like what I had, pretty good history case, so we started the ball rolling. Waited for everything to come up - all we had to do was wait on the package."

That package arrived Tuesday. Triplett says after obtaining a federal warrant, they opened the package - and found prescription drugs.

The next step was to confront Copen.

"The agent and myself will go in, present the warrant, tell him what we've got, see if he agrees to an interview with us," said Triplett. "If not, he'll be indicted.' The warrant did not give the authorities the right to search Copen's business, but he signed a consent form and let them in.

Gerhart could not share what he found, stating the case is still under investigation, but the evidence will be brought before a Grand Jury.

"Most people think that small towns in West Virginia, most of them have one cop, and they can pretty much get by with whatever they want," said Triplett, "And we're trying to send a message that that's not happening no longer."

The U.S. Postal inspector says the next step is indicting Copen on a host of charges, yet to be announced.

The issue will also be brought up in Fairview's City Council meeting on the last Monday of the month.