Two local residents were arrested yesterday afternoon after Agents of the Major Crimes Task Force received information from law enforcement in Columbus that a vehicle from Washington County was observed in an area well known for drug activity. Locating the suspect vehicle on Interstate 77 near milepost fourteen, Task Force Agents stopped the vehicle after the driver committed multiple traffic violations. As Agents approached the vehicle, the driver, age 25, of, Marietta, attempted to conceal a white substance in his pants that he later admitted was crack cocaine.
Following a canine indication for the presence of drugs, Agents searched the vehicle and discovered a digital scale under the driver’s seat and a crack pipe in the passenger side door next to where another man age 25, of New Matamoras, was seated. Under questioning both men admitted traveling to Columbus to purchase crack cocaine and stated they smoked the crack on their return trip.
One of the men granted agents permission to search his residence and directed them to his supply of drugs. From the drug cache the man produced 2.4 grams of black tar heroin, prescription pills, a syringe, marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia and plastic bags he used to package drugs. The man admitted selling heroin and marijuana from his residence and said he used the scale found in his vehicle to weigh drugs. The man also revealed an additional quantity of crack cocaine he had hidden in his pants. The residence where the man sold drugs is also occupied by his girlfriend and newborn child and is approximately 700 feet from a school.
As a result of the traffic stop, suspect number one was arrested for a third degree felony charge of trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a school and a fifth degree felony charge of possession of less than five grams of crack cocaine. Suspect number two was arrested for a fifth degree felony charge of possession of less than five grams of crack cocaine and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a marijuana pipe. Both suspects are being held without bond pending their initial appearance in Marietta Municipal Court. You can read more here.
