Ryan Scott Ottney

PDT Staff Writer

NEW BOSTON — The Village of New Boston has been closing in on drug activities over the past several weeks, making five drug-related arrests since Oct. 12.

According to New Boston Police Capt. Steve Goins, village police officers on Friday responded to CVS in New Boston and found a stolen vehicle parked on the lot. The vehicle, a green Pontiac Grand Prix, was reported missing by the Lexington (Ky.) Metro Police on Oct. 25.

The person found to be in possession of the vehicle was Charlene Lowder, 35, of Portsmouth. She was charged with a fourth-degree felony for receiving stolen property. Upon a search, officers also found three needles and syringes and a charge of possessing drug instruments was added. Another person with Lowder, Melvin McGuire, 53, of Sciotoville, was also arrested for having a felony arrest warrant out of Common Pleas Court for charges of failure to appear.

Goins said later in the day on Friday, at 7:22 p.m., officers also responded to call reporting a possible drug deal at Kmart on Rhodes Avenue. Upon arrival, Officer Kevin Lewis was told by Kmart security that a male and female in the store were seen to be exchanging money and pills together.

Lewis approached the female as she was leaving the store and identified her as Heather Breech, 24, of Lucasville, and discovered she had an arrest warrant out of Municipal Court for probation violation. She was arrested. Upon searching Breech, the officer reportedly found a cellophane wrapper that contained yellow tablets identified as Diazepam — a Schedule III drug.

After securing the female, Lewis approached and detained the male suspect — identified as Jason Mosley, 29, of Lucasville. Mosley was on felony probation with Common Pleas Court for felony drug possession. Lewis also found on Mosley a green tablet that was found to be Oxycontin — a Schedule II drug. Also found on Mosley were two Suboxone strips — a Schedule III drug.

Breech and Mosley were arrested for possession of drugs and the case will be given to the Scioto County prosecutor for possible consideration of charges of trafficking in drugs. Beech also had her two children with her and she was also charged with child endangering.

Goins also reported a drug arrest that occurred in the village on Oct. 12, when village police arrested Virgil Spriggs, 40, and Ryan Price, 28, both of New Boston on felony drug trafficking indictments from the Scioto County Grand Jury.

During the last several months, New Boston Police have been conducting drug trafficking investigations from information received on complaints from tips within the village, and cases were prepared and given to the grand jury in September when both Spriggs and Price were indicted. Spriggs was arrested for trafficking in Suboxone and Ryan Price arrested for trafficking in Clonazepam pills (a Schedule IV drug).

Anyone with possible information on drugs or crime can call the New Boston Police Department Crime and Drug Hotline at 740-456-4144. Callers can remain anonymous.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.