Three individuals were taken into custody in Butler County after deputies served a search warrant and uncovered a significant cache of drugs, firearms, and cash. The trio arrested includes a local man from West Chester Township and two men from Michigan. Local news outlets, including Local12 reported the arrest of Brisco Methard, 23, along with Chase Howard, 34, and Cody Howard, summarizing that authorities had seized over 40 pounds of marijuana, 300 THC and hashish vape cartridges, multiple guns along with ammo, four vehicles, $60,000 in cash, and an electronic money counter from Methard's West Chester Township residence.
The search operation, conducted at Methard’s home located on Cincinnati Dayton Road, was part of a larger collaborative effort involving the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Clermont County Sheriff’s Office, and West Chester Police. More than just marijuana, the cache of evidence included high-end sports cars – two BMWs, a Porsche, and a Chevrolet Trail Boss truck, pointing to a lifestyle fuelled, seemingly, by illicit means. The Journal-News highlighted the seizure of "multiple firearms and a large assortment of ammunition, including several assault rifles", detailing an arsenal that had been accumulated in the suburban home according to Journal-News.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones issued a stern reminder about the legal landscape surrounding controlled substances, stating, "It doesn’t matter if it’s legal in Ohio, if you buy and sell marijuana illegally it’s a crime and you’ll go to jail," in comments secured by Journal-News. The three men now face charges for possession and trafficking in drugs, classified as third-degree felonies, which could potentially lead to severe penalties.
Further details released by WDTN shed light on the age range of the arrested individuals, from 23 to 36 years old. The report notes that along with the extensive array of drugs and ammo, officials also confiscated several vehicles and electronic money counters.
