WMOA News

Beverly Man Charged with Concealing Heroin in Hidden Compartment

Posted on: 10/23/2012

A Beverly man was caught yesterday, allegedly transporting heroin, hidden within his vehicle.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, an anonymous tip led the Major Crimes Task Force, along Morgan County deputies and Beverly police officers, to stop a car being driven by 25-year-old Joseph Anderson on State Route 83 in southern Morgan County.

The tipster said Anderson was returning to the area after buying narcotics in Columbus.

Following a canine indication for the presence of drugs, officers searched the vehicle. At first they only found a small quantity of marijuana. Informed later that drugs were possibly hidden in the vehicle, officers conducted an extensive search and discovered about six grams of heroin concealed in under the dash.

Earlier this year the Ohio General Assembly made it a serious crime to have a hidden compartment in a vehicle if it’s used in the commission of a crime. Thus, Anderson faces a second degree felony charge of having a hidden compartment in a vehicle; a third degree felony charge of possession of heroin; and two misdemeanor drug charges for possession of suboxone and marijuana.