Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

A Lucasville traffic stop has resulted in discovery of 11 grams of heroin and the arrest of a southern Ohio woman.

April D. Panchal-Johnson, 18, of Chesapeake, Ohio faces charges of possession of heroin and possession of a drug abuse instrument.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Portsmouth Post Commander, Lt. Karla Taulbee, said on Friday at approximately 4:12 p.m., troopers from the Portsmouth Post stopped a 1997 Honda Accord for a marked lanes violation on U.S. 23 near milepost 12.

Taulbee said criminal indicators were present and a patrol dog was summoned to the stop. She said the dog alerted on the vehicle, and Panchal-Johnson, a passenger in the rear of the vehicle, surrendered 11 grams of heroin from her person. Troopers said a further search of the vehicle revealed three used syringes and a crack pipe located in Panchal-Johnson’s purse.

Panchal-Johnson was arrested and incarcerated in the Scioto County Jail.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com.