Three arrested in Boardman for possessing meth ingredients

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Township police arrested three people who they say were in possession of chemicals used to make methamphetamine.

Police were dispatched to Walmart, 1300 Doral Drive, about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday after store employees reported two male suspects stole items from the store.

Police stopped the suspects on South Avenue near Simon Road, where they found Bradley Pitts, 55, of Salem; William Watt, 31, of Salem; and Bethany Devine, 23, of Leetonia, in the vehicle.

All three suspects are charged with illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony. Pitts and Watt also are charged with one count each of misdemeanor theft.

The charges stem from the fact that officers found chemicals used to make meth in the vehicle, and, according to a police report, Pitts and Watt reportedly tried to steal additional items – lithium batteries and camping fuel – from Walmart.

“I was going to pay him $150 to make meth, and I had to steal the stuff,” Pitts reportedly told officers, referring to Watt.

A canine sniff of the vehicle reportedly led officers to find allergy medicine, cleaning supplies, drain opener and an electronic scale in the trunk.

All three were taken to the Mahoning County jail and were scheduled to appear in court Thursday evening.

Devine has felony drug charges pending in Columbiana County and is on probation, according to the police report.