Chillicothe, OH – A routine traffic stop early Sunday morning led to a drug-related arrest after officers discovered narcotics and paraphernalia near a gas station on North Bridge Street.
At approximately 12:48 a.m. on March 16, Officer Jonathan Davis pulled over a 2013 Mazda 3 at 61 N Bridge St. for failing to signal properly before turning onto East Second Street. Upon approaching the vehicle, Davis noticed a small amount of crystal residue near the gear shift. Meanwhile, Sergeant Moore spotted a suspicious black sock containing an unknown substance near the passenger door. Given the heavy rain at the time, officers determined the sock had been recently placed outside, prompting them to detain the driver, Kayleigh Johnson, and passenger, James Smoot.
A search of the sock revealed a plastic baggie with suspected narcotics and a glass pipe, commonly used for drug consumption. Officers then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle, discovering a scale with crystal residue in the passenger-side door.
Johnson, the driver, denied seeing Smoot discard anything but admitted noticing his hand raised near the window. Officers later obtained gas station security footage, which will be reviewed as part of the investigation.
Following the search:
🔹 Johnson received a citation for the turn signal violation and was released with a court date of March 24.
🔹 Smoot was arrested and booked into Ross County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia.
🔹 Additional charges for tampering with evidence are being recommended against Smoot.
The recovered substances have been sent to BCI for testing, Pending more charges
