PICKAWAY – Sheriff Matthew O. Hafey is pleased to report the arrest of two people in connection with drug trafficking. On January 12, 2022 around 3:08 PM the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a suspicious vehicle on SR104 in a State Wildlife area. A vehicle matching the description was located on the lot of the Goody Nook by Deputy Ed Moore. He, along with Deputy Brandon Cooper who arrived shortly afterwards, observed several criminal indicators along with several knives which were observed in plain view inside of the vehicle.
Sgt. Stephen Harger was requested to the scene with his canine partner Joris. The pair conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle’s exterior. Sgt. Harger observed Joris “hit” on the vehicle’s passenger side. Upon searching the occupants, a large brown rock like substance was found in the female’s pocket. She was identified as Ashlee Ross, 34 of Chillicothe, Ohio. Ashlee admitted the substance was heroin.
More suspected narcotics were located where the male was sitting in the vehicle. The male, identified as Brandon McKinney of Nicholas, West Virginia, admitted that substance was heroin as well.
Both were placed under arrest and transported to the Pickaway County Jail. Ross is charged with Trafficking in Heroin (F-2) and Possession of Heroin (F-2). McKinney is charged with Possession of Heroin (F-5). Both will be arraigned in Circleville Municipal Court on January 13, 2022. The admitted heroin was weighed and found to be just over 1 ounce with a street value of around $2500.
Sheriff Hafey would like to thank the citizen who reported the suspicious activity, his Deputies and the South Central Ohio Major Crimes Unit, who also assisted in this case, for their hard work. He would also like to encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity to call the Sheriff’s Office to report it.
