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Local man remains in SEORJ on drug-related charges

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A Logan man is being held in Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail on charges of possession of drugs and illegal manufacture of drugs, both second-degree felonies, as well as illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony.

Kirk S. Birchum, 31, of East Front Street, was arrested by Logan Police on Sunday and arraigned in Hocking County Municipal Court on Monday after the routine traffic stop of a vehicle in which he was a passenger revealed the components for manufacturing illegal drugs.

He was given a $100,000 cash or surety bond and an additional $100,000 recognizance bond by Hocking County Municipal Court Judge Fred Moses.

At approximately 3:12 a.m. Sunday, a vehicle was observed traveling on Friesner Avenue towards Henrietta Avenue. The driver of the vehicle allegedly failed to make a complete stop at the intersection, and LPD Officer Ben Skinner noticed the passenger allegedly squirming in the front seat.

Skinner activated his lights and the driver pulled over. Once stopped, the driver and passenger were asked to exit the vehicle. As Birchum got out of the vehicle, a hypodermic needle allegedly fell to the ground.

Other officers were called to assist, and while officer Ryan Culbertson questioned Birchum, he allegedly advised Culbertson about what was in the vehicle and the location of the items.

Detectives from the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office and Fairfield-Hocking Major Crimes Unit were called to search the vehicle and allegedly found components and evidence of illegally manufacturing drugs.

Items confiscated from the vehicle included a grinder, Pyrex measuring cup, glass tubes of pink liquid and approximately one gram of methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle, Patricia L. Baker, 33, of East Front Street, was issued a traffic citation and released. According to LPD, she also could face charges of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals used in the manufacturing of drugs.