PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Two men from Columbus were arrested Thursday after a drug raid on Gallia Street uncovered more than 200 grams of suspected fentanyl and crack cocaine, and one of the men was also taken into custody on an outstanding murder warrant, according to the Portsmouth Police Department and the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office.
Al’Jurdon Christian Gooch, 26, and Christian Ray Jackson, 23, both of Columbus, were arrested at approximately 7:11 a.m. Thursday at 2809 Gallia St. in Portsmouth, Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer and Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman said in a joint news release.
The arrests followed an investigation by the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force that led to a law enforcement operation involving task force detectives, the Portsmouth Police Department’s SWAT team and additional Portsmouth officers, according to the release.
Investigators said the operation turned up approximately 118 grams of suspected fentanyl and 87 grams of suspected crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of $24,720. Gooch and Jackson were each charged with trafficking and possession of drugs, both first-degree felonies, according to the release.
Jackson was additionally taken into custody on an outstanding murder warrant out of Columbus, authorities said.
The search warrant executed at the residence also turned up digital scales and other evidence suspected to be related to drug trafficking, according to the release. A total of $1,014 in cash was seized from Gooch and Jackson’s persons.
Gooch and Jackson were booked into the Scioto County Jail and are scheduled to be arraigned in Portsmouth Municipal Court at 9 a.m. Friday. Both are being held without bond, authorities said.
The case remains under investigation by task force detectives and will eventually be forwarded to the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office for presentation to a Scioto County grand jury, according to the release.
Suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Portsmouth Police Department and the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office.
