In the News

Two Arrested on Multiple Drug Charges near Morristown

Terri Thomas

Dakota Leasure

(Belmont County Jail photos)

Two people were arrested in Belmont County after detectives with the Criminal Interdiction Unit found drugs during a traffic stop Tuesday night near the Pilot Travel Center on Belmont-Morristown Road.

According to the Sheriff’s call log, the arrests took place shortly after 9:00 pm.

Detectives say they found cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl in the vehicle. The pair allegedly attempted to destroy or hide the drugs during the stop.

Terri Thomas, 26, of Powhatan, and Dakota Leasure, 30, of Belmont, were arrested and taken to the Belmont County Jail. Both face felony charges for trafficking and possessing cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

Leasure faces eight counts while Thomas faces seven. In addition to drug-related charges, both face a “tampering with evidence” charge. 

They are also charged with tampering with evidence and trying to bring drugs into a detention facility.

Incident on SR 800 North leads to Near Panic

On Wednesday afternoon around 1:00 a vehicle with handicapped individuals pulled over along SR 800 about a mile north of town when one individual experienced a mental health emergency. During the incident, there was an altercation between two passengers outside of the vehicle.

Due to the nature of the call, Barnesville Police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Belmont County Sheriff’s deputies and Bethesda EMS responded as Barnesville was already out on a call.

A Barnesville EMS member and employee of the Belmont County Coroner’s office also responded using the only available vehicle which is marked as a coroner’s office.

That led folks who drove by the scene to jump to the conclusion someone had died during the altercation.

According to one post on social media, “a passerby saw and called 911 on what they saw, which was 2-3 men fighting on the side of the road which warrants officers racing to the scene because it was an emergency.”

In less than a day, the initial Facebook Post on the Barnesville Liar’s Bench group generated 123 comments and 78 reactions.

The person experiencing the mental health emergency was taken to the hospital for treatment.