LORAIN — An illegal dump site behind Riverside Drive in Lorain may lead to felony charges against those responsible for throwing everything from tires to household garbage over a cliff and into the Black River Metro Park Reservation, a part of the Lorain County Metro Parks system.

Sheriff’s Capt. John Reiber said Wednesday the investigation of the site is just beginning, and details weren’t available for release yet.

But Ken Shawver, chief deputy safety service director for Lorain, said he was furious when he saw the massive mess.

“I felt the same way I do when I see trash in the road,” Shawver said. “I was angry that people would actually destroy a community — that people would be so low and inconsiderate to dump their trash into a park.”

Shawver said deputies are telling him there may be as many as 200 tires at the site and bags upon bags of trash stretching behind four to five homes. He said a Dumpster in front of a nearby burned-out house is also filled with garbage that shouldn’t be there.

Investigators are going through the bags of trash looking for addresses. Shawver said once the owners of the trash are found, prosecution is likely.

“If we can curtail the dumping before it starts, we’re further ahead,” Shawver said.

So far the dump site isn’t a odor problem, but it’s certainly an eyesore, Shawver said, adding that the site was discovered after citizens complained.

Shawver also said he’s sent letters to landlords who own homes in the area to make certain they have trash pickup arranged for their properties.

Dan Martin, director of the Lorain County Metro Parks, couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Dan Billman, director of the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District, said two deputies have spent the past two months investigating illegal dumping throughout the county thanks to a $200,000 solid waste grant from the county commissioners’ office.

“People better start taking this seriously because some of these fines, if the trash is in a waterway for example, start at $10,000,” Billman said.

Felony charges for the Riverside site are possible, he said.

“It’s nothing to sneeze at,” Billman said. “People better be aware that we want to make this county cleaner. It’s a quality-of-life issue for everyone, and the sheriff’s office is looking at the flagrant violators. If they catch somebody that’s been doing it, they’re in deep trouble.”

“We will pursue restitution and clean-up fees,” Martin said. “We’ll let the case run its course, but we expect to be reimbursed if we have to clean it up.”

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

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