WEST PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — A Columbus man was arrested Wednesday after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized approximately 72 grams of suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on State Route 73 in Scioto County, the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force announced.
The stop happened at approximately 4:27 p.m. on October 21 near mile marker 24 in West Portsmouth. Troopers stopped the vehicle for traffic violations as part of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force in coordination with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, according to the release, issued by Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman and Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer.
Arrested was Jimmy Lee Jones, 38, of Columbus. Jones was charged with one count of trafficking in drugs and one count of possession of drugs, both first-degree felonies. The suspected drugs seized have an estimated street value of $7,200, the release said.
Jones was placed in the Scioto County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Portsmouth Municipal Court at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The case will be forwarded to the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office to be presented to a Scioto County grand jury for consideration of additional felony charges, the release said.
The charges are accusations. Jones is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sheriff Thoroughman and Chief Brewer ask anyone wishing to leave drug information for the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force to call the task force tip line at (740) 354-3784 (DRUG) or email drugs@sciotocountysheriff.com. All information will be kept confidential and anonymous.
