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FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

A manhunt in the Lucasville bottoms has resulted in an arrest and discovery of a methamphetamine lab.

Lieutenant Karla Taulbee, commander of the Portsmouth Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Trooper Donnie Edgington witnessed a car driven by Jeremy Hanson, 25, of Lucasville, running a stop sign at the intersection of Miller’s Run and Fairground Road Wednesday morning.

“Trooper Edgington turned on him, but by the time he got turned around, he (the suspect) had slammed on his breaks, opened up his door and took off running,” Taulbee said. “He got across (U.S.) 23 into a cornfield. And at that point and time we had a perimeter set up. There was a meth lab in the vehicle, and aviation (OSHP helicopter) came down; Portsmouth PD (Police Department) responded with their K-9 (police dog), and the (Scioto County) Sheriff’s Department and Drug Task Force all responded with the meth lab and the search for the suspect.”

Law enforcement did a search of the cornfield with the aid of the helicopter, but the K-9 unit lost the track on the suspect who was able to get out of the cornfield. He was spotted jumping out of a trailer window, and witnesses then reported he was on a porch.

“Several officers went to the Lucasville bottoms because they heard he was down there,” Taulbee said. “Then we performed a couple of searches and we were led to where he was hiding out. The helicopter just happened to be at Minford Airport filling up, so they just hopped back over for air support, so he basically turned himself in and there was no incident.”

Hanson is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine; possession of chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine; failure to comply with an order by a law enforcement officer; driving while under suspension, and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, Ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com