Austintown police arrest Salem man on drug charges

AUSTINTOWN — Township police arrested a 19-year-old Salem man on Thursday for both drug possession and possession drug paraphernalia.

Police and medics found Johnathan Thorne of Cliff Drive slumped over the steering wheel of a pickup truck on Moorefield Road, according to a police report. The truck was stopped in the middle of the road with the lights on, keys in the ignition and the vehicle in neutral.

Two witnesses saw the vehicle just before 7:30 a.m. while they were bringing their children to a bus stop, according to the report.

Thorne told police after he regained consciousness that he was at a party and became tired while driving and decided to sleep. He had an odor of alcohol on him and was believed to be under the influence.

He was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Police found a suspected marijuana pipe in his vehicle and prescription medication, including a plastic bag with amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.