PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — Over the New Year’s weekend, a stolen firearm and 27 grams of methamphetamine were seized by police.
According to reports, just before the stroke of midnight on January 2nd, 2022, officers of the Circleville Police Department conducted a traffic stop. Circleville Police Officer A. Salyers was patrolling the North Court Street neighborhood in Circleville, officials say, when he saw an equipment violation on a 2003 Ford Windstar.
John Kaleb Lehr, 29, of Marion, Illinois, was identified as the driver of the vehicle when Officer Salyers was able to perform a traffic stop on Seyfert Avenue. Ofc. Salyers requested aid from other officers because of Lehr’s behavior. As soon as Lehr had been asked to exit his car, he reached into his pocket and dropped a loaded 9mm pistol on the vehicle’s floor. Both Mr. Lehr and his female passenger were taken into custody to be questioned further.
It was only after a thorough investigation that officers were able to determine that the woman in question was 33-year-old Natosha Nicole Curnutte of Columbus, Ohio. Natosha was revealed to have multiple felony warrants for her arrest.
Authorities say nearly 27 grams of methamphetamine and drug trafficking equipment were discovered in addition to the stolen firearm.
The gun, officials said, was reported stolen out of the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office.
The two suspects were taken to the Pickaway County Jail and charged with the following:
Possession of dangerous drugs, aggravated trafficking in drugs, weapons while under disability, receiving stolen property, improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, and tampering with evidence