Chillicothe, OH – A targeted narcotics investigation led to a dramatic raid on July 11, 2024, resulting in the execution of a search warrant at 35 North High Street in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. The operation was authorized by Judge Jeffrey Benson and centered on apprehending Ronald Allen Meadows, suspected of involvement in illicit drug activities.
According to Detectives of the Chillicothe Police Department, Meadows was found inside the residence during the search and immediately detained. “Mr. Meadows was cooperative after being read his Miranda Rights, although he expressed concern upon questioning,” Detectives reported. Meadows disclosed the presence of crack cocaine in the house but denied using fentanyl, a response that led to his apprehension.
The search uncovered a cache of illegal substances and paraphernalia. Among the discoveries were multiple digital scales with traces of white residue, glass pipes indicative of narcotics use, and a significant quantity of Mannite “CICOGNA,” a substance commonly used to cut fentanyl. Additionally, law enforcement seized a variety of firearms, including a Phoenix Arms .22 caliber handgun and a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun, despite Meadows being prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions.
Detectives have forwarded the suspected narcotics, totaling approximately 259 grams of cocaine and 103 grams of fentanyl, to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) for further analysis. Pending the outcome of lab tests, additional charges for trafficking and possession are expected to be filed against Meadows.
Items found in the home include:
“CICOGNA” (Item #14) which is a food additive that this
Detective knows through training and experience to be used as a cutting agent used in Fentanyl. There were (17)
individual boxes of this inside the big box.
A blue press box (Item #13) with white residue found on top
of these individual boxes. This Detective knows through training and experience the press box to be used when breaking down narcotics from a rocky substance into a more powder form.
A Flat Press (Item #15) which this Detective knows from training and experience
to be used as a Pill Press to put narcotics into a pill form.
Search of same closet also yielded (1) black floor safe that was locked. This safe was a dial safe and was forced
open and contained the following:
Item #4: (6) loose .22 caliber ammunition
Item #5: A Phoenix Arms .22 caliber handgun Serial Number “4324315”
Item #6: A Taurus G3C 9mm handgun Serial Number “ACK393055”
Item #7: A Cobra .38 Special Revolver Serial Number “B84871”
Item #8: A Beretta .22 caliber handgun Serial Number “T03885”
Item #9: A black bag with $3878 in Cash
Item #10: A black bag with (4) individual cellophane bags. (3) bags contained unknown white substance, (1) bag
contained unknown purple substance
Item #11: A black magnetic box with (3) individual cellophane bags. All (3) bags contained unknown purple
substance.
Item #12: A black magnetic box with (1) individual cellophane bag containing unknown white substance.
The unknown white substance found in the safe is Cocaine while the unknown purple substance is Fentanyl. These items were weighed and produced an approximate weight of 259 grams of Cocaine and 103 grams of Fentanyl. These suspected narcotics will be sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) laboratory for official weights and testing.
The operation was supported by a coordinated effort involving the Chillicothe Police Department SWAT team, which secured the premises during the raid.
Ronald Allen Meadows has been remanded to the Ross County Jail, facing multiple charges of trafficking in drugs, having weapons under disability, and possession of drugs. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence and pursue legal actions against Meadows.
Meadows also is on Federal Probation and is on probation for similar charges in 2016. He was convicted of Felony Drug Abuse in 1993 in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas reference case, he was convicted of Possession of Drugs in 2009 in the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas, convicted of (3) counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Distribution/Manufacturing/Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, and (2) Counts of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm through the United States Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) in 2017.
For updates and further details on this developing case, please contact the Chillicothe Police Department directly.
