Meth, pills, drug paraphernalia found during searches

The Ironton Police Department has made numerous recent drug arrests already in the month of September.

Around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, Patrolmen Kersten Harris and John Breeding arrested Aaron Pemberton, 43, of 2519 S. Seventh Street, Ironton, Courtney Gallion, 38, of Ironton, Rickey Waddle, 23, of 1115 S. Third Street, Ironton, and Samantha Jo Zornes, 27, of 1162 County Road 19, Kitts Hill.

According to the police report, Patrolman Breeding was following a Chevrolet Monte Carlo operated by Pemberton with Gallion in the front passenger’s seat.

Patrolman Harris advised Breeding that that the department had a signed affidavit on Pemberton for the theft of checks.

The vehicle was stopped in the parking lot of Wendy’s in Ironton, where it was observed that Pemberton and Gallion were moving around a lot in the front of the vehicle.

The officers went to each side of the vehicle, where Pemberton was placed under arrest for the theft of checks.

Following taking Pemberton into custody, Harris observed a syringe in the driver’s side rear passenger’s seat between the cushions. Gallion was then arrested for an outstanding warrant of her own, when she then admitted that she had syringes and a glass bubble pipe used for smoking methamphetamine in her purse, which was on the floor of the vehicle.

Also found in the vehicle was a black case containing multi-colored pill containers with a crystal-like substance in one of them.

Pemberton’s wallet was also recovered, which contained his Visa card, a health card, Suboxone prescriptions and the three checks, which were reported stolen by Tiffany Rudman, made out to Pemberton for various amounts of money.

Waddle and Zornes were the rear passengers in the vehicle, where it was determined that Waddle had a secret indictment for trafficking in drugs. Waddle was then placed under arrest without incident.

Continuing the search of the vehicle, a small metal container was found containing seven blue pills later identified as 10 mg Amphetamine tablets, a type of Ritalin that is a Schedule II controlled substance, which Zornes admitted to being hers.

The four were then transported to the Lawrence County Jail. After a field test of the large crystal-like substance, it was determined to be methamphetamine that weighed 1.57 grams.

In unrelated cases:

• Around 3:49 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, Patrolman Harris arrested Jerry Stapleton, 37, of 809 N. Fourth Street, Ironton, on drug charges. Harris followed Stapleton, who was on a motorcycle riding alongside another rider, for failing to use signals. Stapleton also did not have a motorcycle endorsement.

As Harris was following the pair with lights and sirens going, Stapleton took off out State Route 93 at a high rate of speed. Stapleton was finally stopped near Tim’s 93 Gas and Go, where he then failed to comply with Harris’ commands.

Patrolman Breeding then arrived on scene and ordered Stapleton to the ground. After searching Stapleton, the officers found a small baggy containing what was later field tested to be methamphetamine.

Stapleton was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail without incident, and was booked for possession of methamphetamine, failure to comply, reckless operation and having no motorcycle endorsement.

• Around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, Patrolman Breeding arrested Andrew Robinson, 32, of 128 Township Road 606, Ironton, on drug charges. Breeding was stationary at the corner of Seventh and Heplar streets, when he noticed a green Ford Explorer driven by Robinson.

Having prior knowledge of Robinson not having a valid driver’s license, Breeding initiated a traffic stop, where Patrolman Harris came to assist. Through LEADS, it was determined that Robinson did not in fact have a valid driver’s license.

A clear glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine was found in Robinson’s pants pocket, along with a small baggy containing a crystal-like substance later field tested to be methamphetamine in a pack of Marlboro cigarettes in the cup holder between the driver’s and passenger’s seats of the vehicle.

Robinson’s 13-year-old son was also in the vehicle with him at the time. Robinson was transported to the Lawrence County Jail, however, he began complaining that his stomach was holding water and was swollen.

The jail would not accept Robinson, and a summons to appear in court was given to him before he was released.

• Around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, Sgt. Brian Pauley, Sgt. Jamie Pruitt and Detective Captain Joe Ross arrested Jonathan Dunn, 25, of 1139 Normandy Ave., Portsmouth, and Laurisha Nelson, of Ashland, Kentucky.

Pauley observed a dark colored Ford Excursion traveling north on Liberty Ave. that had just left a house that has received several complaints for drug activity. The vehicle also did not have a front license plate, and Pauley pulled Dunn over for failing to use a turn signal to begin heading west on U.S. 52.

Dunn said he had just picked Nelson up and dropped her off at a friend’s house, and stated he did not have anything he shouldn’t have in the vehicle.

Pauley conducted an open-air sniff with his K-9, where it was found that Dunn had marijuana on him, as well as a pill bottle containing 0.97 of a gram of marijuana as well as a marijuana cigar in the vehicle.

In Dunn’s wallet, officers also found a gray baggy containing 0.32 grams of a white powdery substance, which was later field-tested and found to be cocaine.

A records check determined Nelson had an active warrant for her arrest. Both subjects were transported to the Lawrence County Jail and the vehicle was impounded.

All preceding information came from reports provided by the Ironton Police Department