The arrests were made at the same residences near Middleport where a meth lab was discovered in September, and at least three of those arrested are charged in that first raid.
Laura Hysell, James Circle, Jesi Johnson, Tina Johnson and Corbett E. Ratliff were jailed Saturday after two sheriff’s deputies found matches, lighters, and other tools commonly used to manufacture the drug in their possession.
Another man, Paul Van Meter, was not jailed and faces misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputy Adam Smith said the five will be charged with illegal possession of chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and possibly other charges.
Hysell and Tina Johnson were served and are in jail on indictments relating to a September meth bust at the same residences where tools used to make the drug were found Saturday. Jesi Johnson was jailed on a bench warrant from Meigs County Court. Ratliff was out on bond after appearing on a meth-related indictment returned earlier this month and was returned to jail.
Smith said the sheriff’s department was contacted by the Gallia County Sheriff’s Department after an employee at the Gallipolis Wal-Mart there reported the defendants had allegedly purchased items commonly used in manufacturing meth. The store’s computer system can track such items so authorities can be contacted.
Smith said the six were already gone by the time the purchases were reported, and were arrested at Story’s Run. He said charges relating to the weekend raid were to be filed Monday.
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