Vienna man arraigned on child-endangering, drug charges

Staff report

GIRARD

Matthew R. Henderson, 29, of Robert Street in Vienna remains in the Trumbull County jail in lieu of $150,000 bond after being charged with child endangering, tampering with evidence and possessing chemicals used to manufacture drugs.

Police were called to his address about 5 a.m. Tuesday because of concerns that a child, 4, was living in the home where drugs were being manufactured.

Deputies with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office assisted Vienna police in checking on the child. Deputies said they smelled ether, a chemical used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, as they approached the door.

Henderson answered the door and had someone wake up his daughter and bring her to the front door. The girl appeared to be OK, but the smell of ether was strong, and officers placed Henderson and the girl in a cruiser for their safety.

Vienna firefighters and a Trumbull County HazMat team arrived to decontaminate the residents of the home after two other men from the trailer came out. The two men, Ryan J. Armstrong, 31, of Ridge Road in Cortland, and Steven J. Phillips, 30, of Farmdale, were both arrested on warrants.

Henderson was later taken to the Trumbull County jail. He was not required to enter a plea Wednesday in Girard Municipal Court on the charges during his arraignment.

He pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor theft. He returns to court at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.