Ohio Supreme Court says trash bin evidence helped justify search warrant

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the use of evidence of alleged drug activity pulled from a trash bin for the issuing of a Cleveland search warrant.

The court’s ruling said the trash, along with tips and background information, was sufficient proof for issuing the warrant.

The unanimous decision today involved the 2012 indictment of Lauren Jones of Cleveland on eight felony counts related to making and selling methamphetamine.

Justice Judith Lanzinger said lower courts that threw out the search warrant improperly ruled that the evidence, including empty bottles of chemicals associated with meth production, had to be considered apart from other evidence.

Lanzinger said police linked Jones’ address to meth activity from multiple sources.