Middleport Takes Down Burglary, Meth Lab, and Fires

MIDDLEPORT – On August 13, 2014 Mr. Howard Cecil of 254 Mill Street in Middleport reported to the Middleport Police Department that his home had been broken into and approximately twenty to twenty-five military bayonets were stolen. On August 16 officers investigating the burglary located the stolen items at a campsite in the woods in the dead end area of North Fourth Street in Middleport. Officers arrested Josh Cremeans of Middleport and charged him with burglary in this incident.

On August 19, 2014, Meigs County Sheriff’s Deputies and Middleport officers responded to a Broadway Street residence in Middleport in reference to a possible meth lab. Deputies had been investigating information that they had received about a lab that may be in that location. Chemicals and equipment used to produce methamphetamine were found in the garage at the residence. Twenty-five year old Joey Kimes of Middleport was arrested by deputies and charged with illegal assembly.

August 20, 2014 the Middleport police responded to the former Vaughn’s grocery store to investigate a report from a neighbor that juveniles were seen entering the building. On arrival officers determined that there was smoke coming from the building the the Middleport Fire Department was alerted. After the fire was extinguished by Middleport, Pomeroy, and Rutland fire departments, it was determined that several small fires had been set inside the building. Quick arrival on the scene by Middleport officers, the fire departments, and Meigs County Sheriff Deputies helped avoid a larger fire. Charges against several juveniles are pending in Meigs Juvenile Court in reference to this incident.

The Middleport Police Department wanted to say this incident would have been much worse if it had not been reported by the witness who had seen the juveniles entering the building. A thank you from them goes out to that concerned citizen.