Two face charges in Smith meth lab
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Two men already facing charges for allegedly keeping a Langeloth man against his will this summer are now accused of cooking methamphetamine in a Smith Township home.
Randy Atkins, 44, formerly of 1321 Langeloth-Eldersville Road, was charged Friday by township police with manufacturing and possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. His co-defendant, David P. Smith, 46, of 6 Spring Drive, Burgettstown, will be charged later, said township police Chief Bernie LaRue.
Law enforcement became involved when the girlfriend of Wade Keith called police July 26 after Keith called her to tell him that “Hillbilly,” later identified as Atkins, wanted $75 or he would cut his throat. Police said Atkins went to the girlfriend’s home on Johns Avenue, saw she was on the telephone with police and fled.
Keith told police that he was walking to Rotollini’s Market, also on Langleloth-Eldersville Road, when Atkins and Smith called him over. He said they grabbed him by the arms and took him into Atkins’ house.
“He (Keith) told us that he had been buying (drugs) from them and owed them money,” LaRue said. “He told us about what was happening at the house. We got a search warrant, but when we arrived, they were all gone. But we did find evidence in the kitchen and basement that meth was being cooked there.”
When Atkins was stopped by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers about a week later near Steubenville in Jefferson County, police found the components of a mobile meth lab inside his vehicle, LaRue said.
Atkins was returned to Washington County from Ohio on Oct. 21 to face charges of unlawful restraint, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment for allegedly holding Keith against his will.
Atkins faces a Dec. 5 preliminary hearing before District Judge Gary Havelka on both the drug and assault-related charges. He remains in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.
Smith waived a preliminary hearing on charges of unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats after aggravated assault charges was dismissed. He is free on $50,000 unsecured bond.