A Vinton County, Ohio K-9 Officer helped sniff out drugs at Lake Alma State Park this past weekend. According to the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, it all went down on Saturday. The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two intoxicated men in a vehicle at Lake Alma State Park. The 292-acre park is popular for boating, camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
When Vinton County Deputies arrived on the scene, they found two men inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the picnic area. Officers determined the report was right. Both men showed signs of being under the influence. According to the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, deputies believed both were under the influence of narcotics.
That’s when they called in K-9 Officer Maxiums. Officer Maximus assisted Deputy Jeff Morris by doing a free sniff. Maximus alerted to the scent of suspected narcotics in the vehicle. Maximus’s nose was absolutely right. A search of the vehicle turned up a jackpot of illegal narcotics and paraphernalia including:
- Methamphetamine
- Black Tar Heroin
- Pills
- Meth Pipe
- Syringes
- Scales
K9 Officer Maximus proudly posed with the evidence confiscated from the scene after the bust.
The Suspects
Officers arrested Joshua H. Simmonds, 39, and Larry A. Rice, 44, both of Wellston. Deputies transported both men to the South Eastern Ohio Regional Jail. Officers charged the men with trafficking and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. According to the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, their bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Asleep At The Wheel
That’s not the only time Vinton County Deputies dealt with intoxicated folks in vehicles recently. Earlier in the week, the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a disabled vehicle on Goose Creek Road.
A deputy discovered two people passed out inside the vehicle. Officers attempted to wake the occupants. Both appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. He also observed several pills inside the vehicle.
The passenger, Kassandra J. Barker, 23, was out on bond and wearing an ankle monitor. The Driver, Dylan Gandee, 20, had an outstanding warrant. Both had been recently arrested and charged in a drug trafficking investigation.
