Jones

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Ryan Scott Ottney

PDT Staff Writer

A Portsmouth man was arrested Thursday afternoon after fleeing from Southern Ohio Drug Task Force detectives.

Ralph Jones, 59, of Chillicothe Street in Portsmouth, was operating a vehicle in July, and Sly Hollins, of Dayton was a passenger, when they were stopped on Robinson Avenue in Portsmouth by Task Force detectives. An investigation found more than 50 grams of heroin, over $1,500 cash, a loaded .44-caliber revolver, digital scales, and additional drug trafficking–related evidence. Jones was indicted in September on charges of trafficking in heroin, possession of heroin, and possession of criminal tools, and a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Scioto County Common Pleas Court.

Hollins pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin in the case in Scioto County Common Pleas Court on Oct. 12, and was sentenced to serve a 10-year prison sentence.

According to Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini and Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Ware, Jones was spotted at about 5:37 p.m. Thursday, driving a Toyota Tacoma truck in the 22oo block of Robinson Avenue.

Detectives from the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force — which consists of Narcotics Detectives from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, the Portsmouth Police Department, and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation — attempted to stop Jones’ vehicle to make an arrest, but Jones fled. Detectives pursued Jones until he came to a stop in the 1300 block of Hutchins Street, where he was taken into custody and placed in the Scioto County Jail.

Jones is now being held without bond until he appears for arraignment in Scioto County Common Pleas Court.

An additional case against Jones will be forwarded to the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office to be presented to a Scioto County Grand Jury for the consideration of additional felony criminal charges.

Donini and Ware have asked that anyone wanting to leave drug information for the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force, please contact the Sheriff’s Office drug line at 740-351-1094, the Portsmouth Police Department drug line at 740-354-DRUG (3784), or e-mail drugs@sciotocountysheriff.com. All information will be kept confidential and anonymous.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.