Drug busts in the Valley

Members of Trumbull County Adult Probation, investigators with the Trumbull Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force and Newton Falls Police Department went to 2539 McMullen Allen Road, to investigate information of a meth lab on the property.

Adult probation took Matthew Greathouse, 36, into custody on a probation violation. Greathouse is expected to face more charges once lab tests are returned from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification.

The raid followed tips the task force said it has been receiving about drug-related activity at the home. The probation department became involved when it was determined that a person at the residence was on probation.

Among the items taken from the property were small amounts of suspected methamphetamine and heroin, drug paraphernalia, chemicals used in meth production and a sample of suspected meth.

Also called to the scene were a Clandestine Laboratory Team and Trumbull County Hazmat to neutralize chemicals found there also to take evidence samples.

Team members found three of what is commonly referred to as "one pot" labs outside of the residence and a coffee pot lab in the basement.

Trumbull County Children Services was contacted because two children live in the home; they were at school at the time of the search.

Greathouse has had many run-ins with the law, according to the Newton Falls Municipal Court website. Past cases have ranged from traffic offenses to possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also Thursday, the Columbiana County Drug Task Force arrested a man on drug charges at a car wash on East Taggart Street in East Palestine.

Douglas P. Hunter, of Darlington, Pa., is facing felony drug charges after authorities say they found Xanax in his possession.

The arrest followed a month-long investigation.