Traffic stop leads to arrest, alleged drugs

Traffic stop leads to arrest, alleged drugs

POMEROY, Ohio – One person is in custody following a traffic stop and the alleged discovery of drugs.

According to Meigs County Sheriff Keith O. Wood on Thursday, March 4, 2021 the K9 unit conducted a traffic stop on a black PT Cruiser bearing Ohio license plate number JBR3021. According to deputies, the vehicle came off of Story’s Run Road in Middleport and turned northbound onto State Route 7. At this point, deputies observed the vehicle go left of center and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

Upon making contact with the driver of the vehicle deputies allegedly smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle to which the driver verified having possession of marijuana at the time of the stop. At this time, the deputies asked the driver to step out of the vehicle to which he complied. While exiting the vehicle the driver dropped a plastic baggy containing suspected heroin out of his left hand and onto the ground. The male was taken into custody for Possession of Heroin and Marijuana.

Deputies then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. According to Sheriff Wood, located in the area of the center console was a black bag which deputies found to contain approximately five (5) ounces of suspected crystal methamphetamine. Arrested at the traffic stop was Ricky N. Stone, 61, of Middleport on charges of Possession and Trafficking in Methamphetamine, a felony of the first degree and Possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree.

“My deputies work hard day in and day out to get this poison off of our streets and out of our community. This is a prime example of hard work paying off and we will continue our mission in combatingthis epidemic by cleaning up our small corner of the state,” said Sheriff Wood.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.