Tips from concerned residents led Portsmouth police straight to a vehicle parked in the Farley Square public housing complex.
According to police reports, officers were dispatched to Robinson Avenue after receiving two separate complaints about a man allegedly selling drugs from a vehicle in the area.
When officers arrived, they made contact with the occupants and ultimately took a man and woman into custody.
Police also arranged to have the vehicle towed from the scene.
🚔 MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES FILED
Police arrested Laura Hossman and charged her with:
- Trafficking in Drugs
- Possession of Drugs
- Possessing Criminal Tools
- Having Weapons While Under Disability
Christopher Brantley was charged with:
- Having Weapons While Under Disability
- Trafficking in Drugs
- Possessing Criminal Tools
- Drug Possession
Both were booked into the Scioto County Jail.
👀 A FAMILIAR NAME
Court records show this isn’t Brantley’s first recent drug case.
He was arrested in May on charges related to drug trafficking and drug abuse.
Records also indicate trafficking charges were filed against him in March.
Now prosecutors will be adding another set of drug-related charges to that growing list.
⚖️ WHAT IS A “WEAPON UNDER DISABILITY”?
Many readers are surprised by that charge.
Under Ohio law, certain people are prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions, specific criminal histories, or other legal restrictions.
When someone who is legally barred from possessing a firearm is found with one, prosecutors can pursue a charge of Having Weapons While Under Disability.
🏠 WHY NEIGHBOR COMPLAINTS MATTER
Drug investigations often begin with citizen complaints.
Residents who notice suspicious activity frequently provide the first information that leads police to open an investigation.
In this case, officers received two separate calls about alleged drug activity before responding to the area.
Whether those tips prove accurate will ultimately be determined through the court process.
For now, two people are facing serious felony charges after police say a drug investigation in Farley Square led to arrests, a vehicle tow, and the seizure of evidence.
As with all criminal cases, the charges remain allegations unless proven in court.
