Trish Bennett, Editor
KINGSTON – Complaints about an unusual odor on Hayesville Road led deputies to the discovery of an active methamphetamine lab on Thursday.
Marty Karshner, 42, of Chillicothe, is currently in the Pickaway County Jail facing felony charges of possession of methamphetamine, and additional charges could be pending as the investigation continues.
Deputy Erick Eberhard, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, said he was dispatched to 11593 Hayesville Road about 4:46 p.m. Thursday on reports of a suspicious odor in the area.
Upon his arrival, he made contact with Karshner outside an outbuilding on the property.
“He seemed very nervous and was uncomfortable with my presence,” Eberhard said. “He gave me permission to search the building, but he kept getting more and more nervous and fidgety.”
Eberhard said Karshner’s behavior led him to ask if he had any weapons on him, and Karshner reportedly replied he did not know what was in his pockets. Upon patting him down, Eberhard said he located a knife in one pocket and a round cylindrical item in another.
“At that time, he openly admitted the item contained meth,” Eberhard said.
At that point, Eberhard said he called for a detective and additional deputies, who arrived to assist at the scene. They waiting for a warrant before entering the outbuilding, where they discovered more than 13 ounces of what is believed to be liquid meth.
Deputies on the scene neutralized the substance, which will be sent to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for processing.
The alleged operation was found on property owned by Karshner’s parents, who were not home at the time of the arrest, Eberhard said. At this time, Karshner is the only one facing charges in the incident, which remains under investigation.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
