Archive of 06-12-09

On 12 Jun 09 Sherry L. Hartenstine, age 42, 1328 Frederick Boulevard, Reading, PA, reported she was incarcerated between 3 Jun and 12 Jun and sometime during that period an unknown suspect(s) broke the rear window of her Jeep. Ms. Hartenstine said her vehicle was parked at Dollar General in Lowell and that the suspect who broke her window also stole her wallet containing $60, her driver’s license and credit cards. This case remains under investigation (296).

On 12 Jun 09 Jeffrey Householder, age 51, 1457 Hocking Road, Little Hocking, reported he is constructing a home at 2400 State Route 124 and sometime overnight an unknown suspect(s) kicked open the doors to the residence and a garage and stole over $900 worth of tools and equipment. This case remains under investigation (610).

On 12 Jun 09 Harold Ours, age 58, 44 Garden Lane, Waverly, WV, reported he rents property at 311 Walnut Street, Lowell, to the Lowell Food Pantry and to Joseph L. Greathouse, age 22. Mr. Ours said when he visited the property a week ago Mr. Greathouse ran extension cords from his apartment to electrical outlets in the hallway paid for by the food pantry. Mr. Greathouse unplugged the cords but when Mr. Ours returned on 12 Jun the extensions cords were again plugged into the outlets. Investigating the report, Deputy Sheriff Travaglio did not see the electric cords but did notice a glass marijuana pipe sitting on a stair step. Mr. Greathouse admitted the pipe belonged to him and said he used it to smoke marijuana a few hours ago. As a result, Deputy Travaglio arrested Mr. Greathouse for possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia and transported him to the Washington County Jail. Theft charges are pending.

On 12 Jun 09 Jerad D. Ketelsen, age 25, 175 Broome Road, Lowell, struck a deer as he traveled northbound on Highland Ridge Road near Broome Road. Mr. Ketelsen’s Nissan Titan sustained functional damage; no injuries were reported (1293).

On 12 Jun 09 Tonya Huffman, age 47, 9570 State Route 339, Vincent, reported she and her husband moved from their foreclosed residence next door at 9590 State Route 339 in April and during the next two months several items were stolen from the home. Mrs. Huffman said two men who were reportedly employed by her mortgage company to prepare the home for sale allegedly stole kitchen cabinets, a pantry, a glider chair, a trampoline and an animal cage. This case remains under investigation (1001).

REPEAT OFFENDER ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING IN CRACK COCAINE

Justin A. Simpson, a bane on the existence of the mid-Ohio valley, was arrested again today on drug-related charges. Simpson, age 20, 6644 Strattfort Lakes Boulevard, Canal Winchester, OH, has been arrested three times since March of this year for several drug offenses, including felony possession of crack cocaine, manufacturing crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Today’s arrest of Simpson follows two controlled buys of crack cocaine that occurred this afternoon and on 8 Jun. During both of the transactions Simpson sold a confidential informant two grams of crack cocaine for $200. Upon completion of the transaction today, Task Force Agents arrested Simpson and recovered the $200 in marked currency used by the informant. Simpson is currently incarcerated in the Washington County Jail on third and fourth degree felony charges of trafficking in crack cocaine. Being held without bond, Simpson’s initial court appearance is scheduled for 1 pm on 15 Jun 09.

SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR SELLING HEROIN

Mid-Ohio Valley law enforcement’s efforts to thwart drug trafficking continued last night with the arrest of Walter Rick Ayala, age 21, 1962 Princeton Street, Parkersburg. Utilizing a confidential informant at 11:45 pm last night, Agents of the Major Crimes Task Force purchased two unit doses of heroin from Ayala in the Go-Mart parking lot. Following the sale, Ayala was stopped by marked units of the Marietta Police Department near exit one of Interstate 77. In addition to the buy money previously used to make the purchase of heroin, Agents seized a small quantity of Percocet that Ayala had concealed in a cellophane wrapper. Ayala was transported to the Washington County Jail and charged with trafficking in heroin and possession of Percocet, both fifth degree felonies. Ayala remains incarcerated without bond pending his initial court appearance this afternoon.

250 MARIJUANA PLANTS SEIZED BY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

At 1348 on 12 June 2009 Detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with an officer from the Ohio Adult Parole Authority seized approximately 250 plants from in and around 650 King Avenue, Bartlett, OH, a rural area in western Washington County. Detectives were in the area investigating a series of burglaries when they made the discovery.

The plants in various stages of growth ranging in size from seventeen inches to four feet were planted in secretive locations. The plants appeared to have started their growth inside and were transplanted to outside locations. Instrumentalities utilized in cultivation were also seized and taken into evidence. This appears to be the largest single grow operation seized in Washington County in several years.

Arrested were:

Brandon E. O’Brien, age 21, 650 King Avenue, Bartlett, Ohio for cultivation of marijuana and having weapons under disability;

Mason A. Nelson, age 21, 540 King Avenue, Bartlett, Ohio for cultivation of marijuana and possession of drugs and paraphernalia; and

Robin G. Richards, age 21, SR 550, PO Box 28, Barlow, Ohio for failure to appear on a warrant to pay fines.

The following individuals were processed into the Washington County Jail:

Carol Ann Miller, age 44, 82 28th Street, Barberton, OH, for OVI and for driving outside the marked lanes of travel, both misdemeanors. Miller was arrested on Interstate 77 by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 12 Jun 09 at 12:55 am.

Daniel Shawn Durben, age 37, Marietta, for theft, a misdemeanor. Durben was arrested at the Tiger Stop by Patrolman Gragan of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 12 Jun 09 at 9:45 am.

Justin Alexzander Simpson, age 20, 27400 State Route 7 Lot 50, Marietta, for two felony counts of trafficking in drugs. Simpson was arrested on Theis Avenue by Detective Nohe of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 12 Jun 09 at 1:50 pm.

Robin Jerome Richards, age 21, State Route 550, Barlow, for failure to appear at a court ordered hearing on unpaid fines, a misdemeanor. Richards was arrested on King Avenue in Cutler by Lt. Stackpole of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and processed into the Washington County Jail on 12 Jun 09 at 5:54 pm.

Mason Andrew Nelson, age 21, 540 King Avenue, Cutler, for possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. Nelson was arrested on King Avenue by Detective Rhodes of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and processed into the Washington County Jail on 12 Jun 09 at 5:56 pm.

Joseph Lee Greathouse, age 22, 311 ½ Walnut Street, Lowell, for possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. Greathouse was arrested in Lowell by Deputy Sheriff Travaglio and processed into the Washington County Jail on 12 Jun 09 at 7:04 pm.

Brandon Edward O’Brien, age 21, 650 King Avenue, Cutler, for felony charges of violating the terms of his probation and illegally cultivating drugs and for a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. O’Brien was arrested at his residence by Detective Rhodes of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and processed into the Washington County Jail on 12 Jun 09 at 9:00 pm.

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