Drug agents raid Perry Twp. home
An agent holds one of the items found. The box, which looked like a book, contained suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia, including scales. Agents also found other suspected narcotics in the house, including suspected methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana, along with THC. Charges may be pending against a male and female in the house, pending lab results. (Salem News photos by Mary Ann Greier)
Columbiana County Drug Task Force agents and the sheriff’s office searched this house at 858 Georgetown Road for drugs Wednesday after securing a search warrant based on tips, working with Perry Township Police and the investigation into a traffic stop Tuesday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
An agent holds one of the items found. The box, which looked like a book, contained suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia, including scales. Agents also found other suspected narcotics in the house, including suspected methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana, along with THC. Charges may be pending against a male and female in the house, pending lab results. (Salem News photos by Mary Ann Greier)
Columbiana County Drug Task Force agents and the sheriff’s office searched this house at 858 Georgetown Road for drugs Wednesday after securing a search warrant based on tips, working with Perry Township Police and the investigation into a traffic stop Tuesday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
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PERRY TWP. -- Columbiana County Drug Task Force agents seized numerous suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia during a search of a Georgetown Road residence Wednesday, with charges pending the outcome of lab results.
A woman at the residence, Bethany Devine, 29, whose last known address was Fair Avenue, was taken into custody on a felony warrant for complicity. A man was present, also, but no charges were filed at this time.
"We received numerous drug complaints about this house," Sgt. Brett Grabman of the county Sheriff's Office said.
Grabman was recently appointed as the new director of the DTF, taking the place of the former director now Sheriff Brian McLaughlin.
"With the new sheriff in town, I want the public to know we're not missing a beat. We're gonna be around. We're very appreciative of the opportunity," he said.
The DTF and Sheriff's Office worked in conjunction with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Perry Township Police, he explained, securing a search warrant based on tips and the investigation into drugs found during a traffic stop Tuesday by OSHP in the Perry Township/Salem area.
He said charges may be filed against both the man and Devine after the suspected drugs are tested by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab.
One of the items found was a box that looked like a book, but when it was opened, there was a lock and then inside there were numerous items of drug paraphernalia, including scales, along with suspected narcotics. The search also yielded methamphetamine, suspected heroin, marijuana, THC and additional drug paraphernalia items.
"It was pretty evident that they've been selling from that house for quite awhile," Grabman said.
According to court records and published reports, Devine has faced charges in the past related to meth lab raids in Leetonia and in Salem, including for the illegal manufacture of drugs. No meth lab or materials were found in the house.
As for the traffic stop by the patrol, Grabman said Cory Haueter, 34, was in the vehicle, along with another man. Haueter was taken into custody on an active warrant by the sheriff's office.
When asked who owned the house, Grabman said the owner, William T. Poling, 37, was currently in prison. A previous story said he was sentenced to a year in prison last fall for operating a vehicle under the influence related to driving with amphetamine and methamphetamines in his system and for aggravated possession of drugs.
Another resident of the property, Jennifer Poling, 33, was taken into custody last week in Alliance after an incident there involving a gun in her motor vehicle and drugs. Stark County online court records said Poling is facing felony charges of illegal conveyance of weapons, carrying a concealed weapon, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, aggravated possession of drugs, along with endangering children, possession of drug abuse instruments, illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and wrongful entrustment. The man she allowed to drive the vehicle, Lonnie Wilson, 32, who was listed as homeless, was also facing numerous charges.
mgreier@salemnews.net