Three people have been arrested by Portsmouth Police after following the trail of a drug deal on Friday.

Police officer Steve Timberlake said he observed Martin Lee, 41, of 517 Laurel St., Greenup, Ky., purchase a box of Chore Boy and two glass roses at a carryout. Timberlake said the two items are commonly used to make a smoking device for crack cocaine.

Timberlake followed Lee, who reportedly was a passenger in a white Ford Thunderbird driven by a woman, north on Scioto Trail in Portsmouth to a convenience store. A short time later, Timberlake reported a car driven by Jeffery Walker, 30, of 3222 Scioto Trail, and passenger, Michael W. Blackburn, 34, also of 3222 Scioto Trail, pulled onto the lot. Lee approached the driver's side window, and the officer said he saw a hand exchange take place.

Timberlake rushed the vehicle and said Lee placed a bag of crack cocaine in the crack between the hood and fender of the Thunderbird.

According to the report, Walker told police he gave Blackburn a ride to the convenience store and observed Blackburn give Lee a bag with crack cocaine and that Lee gave Blackburn what Walker described as a “ball of cash.”

The report said Walker possessed $417 which the officer believed came from drug sales.

Walker was charged with trafficking in drugs-containing cocaine and complicity.

Blackburn was charged with trafficking in drugs-containing cocaine, and Lee was charged with possession of drugs-cocaine and tampering with evidence.

Det. David Thoroughman explained the use of Chore Boy and glass roses for smoking crack cocaine.

“They use the Chore Boy as a filter, by tearing a piece off and put it in the end of the glass pipe on the rose. Then, they place a rock of crack cocaine on one side of the Chore Boy and smoke it,” Thoroughman said. “That's why you find gold flakes where crack cocaine is smoked. It comes from tearing off the Chore Boy.”

Thoroughman said users utilize glass or metal pipes to smoke crack cocaine.

“For a while, people were having their antennas broken off their cars, because they were using that to smoke,” he said.

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.