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Two Arrested In Church Parking Lot With Meth Ingredients

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Two men were arrested for possessing meth ingredients after the pastor of Outreach Ministries reported a suspicious vehicle in the church parking lot.

Tony D. Smith, 48, of Williamsport, and Timothy M. Murray, 24, of Somerset, were both charged with illegal assembly of possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony.

Pickaway County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the location at 8:06 p.m., Saturday following a report from pastor Doyne Wiggins, who lives next to the church, that a vehicle was parked at the rear of the building where it could not be seen very well.

When deputy Shad Wright arrived on scene, the men told him they were visiting a friend, but there was no place to park at his house so they just parked at the church; however, they could not name who that friend was.

Deputy Wright deployed his canine on the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu and it indicated on the rear passenger door.

Along with Deputy Jacob Sowers, Wright searched the vehicle and found two Mountain Dew bottles and a box of hot and cold packs in the back seat. One of the bottles had a dried white substance believed to be meth around the outer portion of it.

In the trunk, the deputies found two Walmart bags containing four lithium batteries, coffee filters, 8-feet of airline tubing and a gallon of Coleman Fuel. In addition, they found a bag of what they believe to be meth and a one-pound plastic container of Kleen Out drain opener and two bottles of rubbing alcohol that were partially empty. Receipts documenting the purchases were also found.

All items were consistent with chemicals used to make meth.

When he was questioned, Smith denied knowing the items were in the back of his vehicle. Although he did admit to buying the Coleman Fuel at Walmart, he said he didn't know how it was going to be used.