CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A New Jersey man faces drug charges after a traffic stop near a Main Street gas station early Wednesday morning led to the discovery of prescription pills, marijuana, and nearly $14,000 in cash, according to a Chillicothe Police Department report.
Tyrone Bailey Jr. was arrested and charged with possession of drugs following the incident at the Pilot station at 1111 E. Main St., the report states.
The traffic stop
According to the report, an officer on patrol observed a black Chevrolet SUV with Florida license plates cross the center line multiple times while traveling through downtown Chillicothe around 12:25 a.m. Wednesday. The vehicle turned into the Pilot station, where officers conducted a traffic stop, the report reads.
Officers requested a K9 unit respond to the scene, according to the report. The K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics, leading to a search of the vehicle, officers said.
What was found
The search yielded multiple prescription medications without proper labeling, marijuana, a large sum of cash, drug paraphernalia, and ammunition, according to the report.
Officers located a prescription vial in the driver’s door pocket containing multiple types of Schedule II controlled substances, including Oxycodone and Amphetamine tablets, as well as Alprazolam, the report states. A separate vial with prescription medication matching the label was found in a passenger’s belongings.
According to the report, officers also seized $13,887 in cash from the vehicle and its occupants. Additional items found included a vacuum sealer, a kitchen scale, sandwich bags, a metal tray, and multiple calibers of handgun ammunition, officers said in their report.
Officers also recovered five Apple iPhones that were powered off and passcode-protected, the report reads.
Investigation details
Bailey and a 19-year-old passenger told officers they had traveled from New Jersey approximately one week earlier to visit friends and family in Ohio, according to the report. The vehicle was a rental, though no rental agreement was found in the car, officers said.
Surveillance video from a nearby location showed both individuals arriving at approximately 10:30 p.m. Monday and leaving around 12:25 a.m. Tuesday, shortly before the traffic stop, the report states.
A background check revealed Bailey had prior convictions, including felony robbery as a juvenile and adult drug possession with a three-year sentence, which prohibited him from possessing firearms, according to the report.
Charges and custody
Bailey was advised of his rights and declined to answer questions about the pills found in the vehicle, officers said in the report. He was arrested on a fifth-degree felony charge of possession of drugs and transported to Ross County Jail, where he was held without bond pending a court appearance, the report reads.
The younger passenger was released without charges after the investigation concluded and was provided transportation at his request, according to the report.
Officers served Bailey with property seizure notices totaling $13,887 and issued a traffic citation for lanes of travel violation with a court date of March 25, 2026, the report states.
Additional charges are pending lab analysis by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI).
Editor’s Note: All information for this story was directly sourced from the official report provided by police. Any discrepancies should be directed to the reporting agency.