A response by Scioto County Sheriff's deputies has resulted in drug charges against a Scioto County man.

Ritchie D. Askew, 53, 1725A Shepherd's Fork Road, West Portsmouth, was charged with domestic violence, possession of drugs schedule III, IV or V substance, and possession of drugs-marijuana.

Scioto County Sheriff's deputy Kirk Jackson was dispatched to the location, to what was reported as a domestic dispute between Askew and his nephew, Andrew Litz.

Litz told deputies Askew came into his bedroom while he was sleeping and hit him in the face for no reason, then grabbed an ax handle, and hit him in the face and on the leg.

Jackson said Litz appeared to have visible swelling to his face and leg, and a cut on his nose.

Jackson said Askew told a different story. He said Litz started arguing with him, punched him several times and came at him with an ax handle. Askew complained of an injury to his head, but Jackson said none was visible.

Askew was placed under arrest for domestic violence, and a search of his body turned up a pill bottle in his left front jeans' pocket, with his name on it and labeled Orphenadrine 100 milligrams.

Jackson said when he opened the bottle, he found various other pills, along with the Orphenadrine. He also said he contacted poison control, who confirmed three of the pills were schedule narcotics, including six Kolonpin 5-milligram pills - a schedule IV drug - nine 10-milligram Valium tablets - a schedule IV narcotic - and a Vicodin 7.5-milligram pill - a schedule III drug.

Askew was taken to Scioto County Jail, and was asked by officer Kyle Porter to remove his boots and socks. At that time, Porter discovered a baggy of marijuana in his sock, resulting in charges of four counts of drug abuse, along with domestic violence.

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