HELMAN
KING
POWELL
By FRANK LEWIS
Detectives from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office said they have arrested three Dayton men in connection with a break-in at Hallmark Pharmacy in Wheelersburg, and recovered more than 4,000 pain pills.
Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said the Porter Township Community Policing deputy was on routine patrol when he was dispatched at 6:13 a.m. Monday to an alarm call at Hallmark Pharmacy. Upon arrival he reportedly observed the front door glass had been broken. At the same time the deputy said he remembered passing a black vehicle that appeared suspicious. The deputy pulled the vehicle over. Inside were two males. Donini said The Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted in the stop.
Another deputy was patrolling the area and said a male subject was observed on a cell phone standing around Speedemart in Wheelersburg. Donini said the man was detained for questioning. The suspect had grass on his clothing and shoes and was wet from the knees down.
Donini said detectives and the Porter Township deputy searched the wooded area and creek bank that ran behind the pharmacy to the intersection of Center Street where they said they found a large brown garbage can that had the stolen medication inside. They reported recovering 4,016 stolen hydrocodone and Diazepam tablets.
Arrested was Jesse Helman, 39, of Dayton. Helman is charged with breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony; theft of drugs a third-degree felony; possession of criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony; two counts of possession of drugs, second-degree felonies and two counts of third-degree felony possession of drugs. Helman is being held on a $49,500 bond. Also arrested were Christopher King, 39, and Tony Powell Jr., 19, both of Dayton. Powell and King have been charged with one count of complicity to breaking and entering and complicity to theft of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies. Powell and King are being held on a 7,500 bond. All three subjects will appear today in Portsmouth Municipal Court.
Donini said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could follow. He said if anybody has information about the case they should call Detective Jodi Conkel at the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office at 740-351-1091. He said all calls will remain anonymous.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
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