ASHLAND COUNTY MAN CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL DRUG MANUFACTURING

• August 25, 2023

In April of 2022, Detectives from the Ashland Police Division and the Ashland County Sheriffs Office assigned to the METRICH Enforcement Unit initiated a drug trafficking investigation in Ashland County. On April 7, 2022, a traffic stop resulted in two arrests, which led to a search warrant at 158 US 250 Polk, Ohio.

During the search, Detectives discovered evidence of Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) manufacturing. DMT is a Schedule I hallucinogenic drug of abuse. Detectives from the Mansfield METRICH office assisted in collecting the evidence. Investigators seized Dimethyltryptamine, evidence of drug trafficking, and a firearm. Stephen L. Messier, 40, of Polk, Ohio, was subsequently charged with drug-related offenses.

Messier was convicted in July 2023 of Illegal Manufacture of Drugs, Illegal Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs, Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, Aggravated Possession of Drugs, Having Weapons Under Disability, and Endangering Children. Judge David Stimpert of the Common Pleas Court of Ashland County sentenced Messier to a combined prison term of eleven (11) to fourteen (14) years.

The METRICH Enforcement Unit would like to thank the community for providing tips that helped lead to the successful completion of this case. We encourage all residents to continue to report suspected drug activity by calling the METRICH Crime Tip Hotline at 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or downloading the METRICH Enforcement Unit mobile app to submit a tip.

METRICH Access

Detective Kody Hying 419-289-3639 ext. 1039

hying.kody@ashland-ohio.com

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