LORAIN COUNTY, OH — A watercraft safety check conducted Thursday evening on the Black River resulted in the arrest of a North Ridgeville man and the seizure of a boat, according to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office.
Cory Alexander Funk, 36, was taken into custody by deputies with the Sheriff’s Watercraft Enforcement Team as part of the Northern Border Initiative. According to booking records, the arrest occurred on May 29, 2025, at approximately 7:09 p.m.
During the stop, deputies reportedly located crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia in Funk’s possession. A firearm was also found, but no weapons charges were filed, as Funk was not under disability at the time.
The boat involved in the incident is not registered to Funk. Deputies are working to identify the legal owner and determine whether Funk had permission to operate the vessel. The watercraft is currently impounded by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office.
Funk was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance, a fifth-degree felony (25CRA01295), and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor (25CRB01296). He is being held at the Lorain County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.
Court records show that Funk appeared in Lorain Municipal Court on May 30. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for June 4, 2025.
The Northern Border Initiative is a collaborative operation involving local and federal agencies aimed at enhancing safety and reducing criminal activity along Ohio’s northern waterways. The investigation into the ownership and operation of the boat remains ongoing.