Josiah Ford
Frank Lewis
PDT Staff Writer
People cooking meth continue to endanger police officers and the health of the general public.
Robert W. Wilson, 26, of 1314 Findlay St., Portsmouth and Josiah J. Ford, 25, of 19743 Ohio 772, Waverly, are facing charges of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacturing of drugs, a third degree felony, after being arrested early Friday morning. Police said they also arrested Christopher R. Erks, 33, of Portsmouth, who was also inside the house, on a Probation violation.
Portsmouth police officers responded to 1314 Findlay St. at around 4:52 a.m. in reference to a complaint of subjects manufacturing methamphetamine. Officers noticed a strong chemical odor eminating from the house when they arrived. Upon arrival, officers said Wilson and Ford ran from the house but were detained.
In the kitchen, police found a backpack containing a box of coffee filters, wire cutters, a plastic bottle that contained a substance believed to be a by-product of methamphetamine and a brown plastic bag that contained white pellets. On the kitchen table they found a container of salt, a green container with seven syringes and lithium batteries as well as drain cleaner, a glass jar with a milky substance inside and a can of starter fluid with a hole in it.
In front of the stove, officers found a plastic bottle with a tube coming out of it that contained a white substance. Officers said they recognized it as what is known as a generator.
Captain Lynn Brewer said a fourth subject was later identified as being involved in the lab and a case will be presented to the Scioto County grand jury seeking indictment for the manufacture of the drugs. The juvenile located inside the residence was transported to their home and released to their parents. A case will be presented to the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office Juvenile Prosecutor for consideration of charges against the juvenile.
A team of experts from the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation that is specially trained in the disassembly of Methamphetamine Labs was called to the scene to make the area safe.
Brewer said the arrests and the shutting down of a potentially lethal Methamphetamine Lab was made possible by the involvement of a concerned citizen. Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Ware said anyone with information concerning any possible criminal activity is encouraged to call their local law enforcement agency and report the activity.
The adults arrested were taken to the Scioto County Jail.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Frank on Twitter @FrankLewisPDT.
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