Greenfield man faces trial on pocket meth lab charges
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Greenfield man, who was arrested after reportedly fighting with police while carrying an alleged "shake and bake" meth lab in his pocket and holding his young child against him, is standing trial Thursday in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Christopher Jenkins was arrested Jan. 25 following a traffic stop by the Greenfield Police Department. According to the Highland County Common Pleas Court website, Jenkins was later indicted on charges of Illegal Manufacture of Drugs in the Vicinity of a Juvenile, a felony of the first degree; Illegal Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs in the Vicinity of a Juvenile, a felony of the second degree; Assault on a Peace Officer, a felony of the second degree; and Endangering Children, a felony of the third degree.
As a witness testified in court about Jenkins' 2-year-old son crying at the scene as the defendant left him behind on the sidewalk to allegedly flee from police, Jenkins began crying and wiping his eyes.
Jenkins is being represented by Hillsboro attorney Kathryn Hapner, and the state is being represented by Highland County Prosector Anneka Collins and Assistant Prosecutor Molly Bolek.
Greenfield Police Officer Jason Havens testified Thursday regarding the alleged events of Jan. 25.
Havens testified that while on patrol in Greenfield, at approximately 10:18 a.m. in the 100 block of South Washington Street of Greenfield, he witnessed a gray Jeep fail to yield at a crosswalk, coming within "a foot" of striking a pedestrian. The officer then made a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Havens is a K-9 handler with the GPD and had his dog in his cruiser. When he made the traffic stop, he took the dog, Dexi, around the vehicle. The dog indicated on both the driver's side and the passenger side that there was a presence of drugs, Havens testified.
When he was asked by Hapner why he searched the defendant, Havens said, "Because he asked me to."[[In-content Ad]]Havens said he put Jenkins, who was a passenger in the vehicle, against a wall to search him, and as he attempted to reach inside the defendant's jacket to search, he held the child closer and moved away. Havens said as he attmpted to take him into custody Jenkins began resisting. As the two struggled, Jenkins allegedly hit the officer in the face with a set of handcuff. Havens testified Jenkins and then he began running away.
During that struggle, a Gatorade bottle allegedly containing an active "shake and bake" or "on-pot" pocket meth lab fell to the ground from Jenkins' pocket, according to Havens and other witnesses.
The officer was able to catch the defendant and place him in custody.
At the reported request of Jenkins' girlfriend, officers searched his apartment. They recovered a measuring cup with a white residue. BCI forensic scientist Stanton Wheasler testified Thursday that the white substance tested positive for methamphetamine.
A pack of cold medicine was recovered from Jenkins' apartment, and a container of drain cleaner was found underneath the passenger seat in the vehicle, according to testimony. Addiontally, a "cold pack" sold to treat sore muscles was recovered from Jenkins' person. The pack had been opened and taped back together with electrical tape. An agent from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation later testified that the pellets that comprise cold packs can be utlized in a process to make amonia - which is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
In addition to Havens, jurors heard testimony from witness Barbara Sims, who testified that she witnessed the incident and ran to the child when she saw Jenkins allegedly begin to fight with Havens.
"I was across the street before I knew it," Sims said. "I put (the child's) head on my shoulder to try to get him not to look. He was crying ... He kept saying, 'they're hurting my daddy.'"
Officer Kevin Lowe of the GPD said that as he went to assist Havens in the incident, he witnessed, from approximately 50 yards away, Jenkins striking Havens.
Greenfield Chief of Police Tim Hester and Officer Jennifer Lowe also testified regarding the chain of evidence.
Testimony from state witnesses will continue in the afternoon, followed by the presentation of the defense's case.
Christopher Jenkins was arrested Jan. 25 following a traffic stop by the Greenfield Police Department. According to the Highland County Common Pleas Court website, Jenkins was later indicted on charges of Illegal Manufacture of Drugs in the Vicinity of a Juvenile, a felony of the first degree; Illegal Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs in the Vicinity of a Juvenile, a felony of the second degree; Assault on a Peace Officer, a felony of the second degree; and Endangering Children, a felony of the third degree.
As a witness testified in court about Jenkins' 2-year-old son crying at the scene as the defendant left him behind on the sidewalk to allegedly flee from police, Jenkins began crying and wiping his eyes.
Jenkins is being represented by Hillsboro attorney Kathryn Hapner, and the state is being represented by Highland County Prosector Anneka Collins and Assistant Prosecutor Molly Bolek.
Greenfield Police Officer Jason Havens testified Thursday regarding the alleged events of Jan. 25.
Havens testified that while on patrol in Greenfield, at approximately 10:18 a.m. in the 100 block of South Washington Street of Greenfield, he witnessed a gray Jeep fail to yield at a crosswalk, coming within "a foot" of striking a pedestrian. The officer then made a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Havens is a K-9 handler with the GPD and had his dog in his cruiser. When he made the traffic stop, he took the dog, Dexi, around the vehicle. The dog indicated on both the driver's side and the passenger side that there was a presence of drugs, Havens testified.
When he was asked by Hapner why he searched the defendant, Havens said, "Because he asked me to."[[In-content Ad]]Havens said he put Jenkins, who was a passenger in the vehicle, against a wall to search him, and as he attempted to reach inside the defendant's jacket to search, he held the child closer and moved away. Havens said as he attmpted to take him into custody Jenkins began resisting. As the two struggled, Jenkins allegedly hit the officer in the face with a set of handcuff. Havens testified Jenkins and then he began running away.
During that struggle, a Gatorade bottle allegedly containing an active "shake and bake" or "on-pot" pocket meth lab fell to the ground from Jenkins' pocket, according to Havens and other witnesses.
The officer was able to catch the defendant and place him in custody.
At the reported request of Jenkins' girlfriend, officers searched his apartment. They recovered a measuring cup with a white residue. BCI forensic scientist Stanton Wheasler testified Thursday that the white substance tested positive for methamphetamine.
A pack of cold medicine was recovered from Jenkins' apartment, and a container of drain cleaner was found underneath the passenger seat in the vehicle, according to testimony. Addiontally, a "cold pack" sold to treat sore muscles was recovered from Jenkins' person. The pack had been opened and taped back together with electrical tape. An agent from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation later testified that the pellets that comprise cold packs can be utlized in a process to make amonia - which is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
In addition to Havens, jurors heard testimony from witness Barbara Sims, who testified that she witnessed the incident and ran to the child when she saw Jenkins allegedly begin to fight with Havens.
"I was across the street before I knew it," Sims said. "I put (the child's) head on my shoulder to try to get him not to look. He was crying ... He kept saying, 'they're hurting my daddy.'"
Officer Kevin Lowe of the GPD said that as he went to assist Havens in the incident, he witnessed, from approximately 50 yards away, Jenkins striking Havens.
Greenfield Chief of Police Tim Hester and Officer Jennifer Lowe also testified regarding the chain of evidence.
Testimony from state witnesses will continue in the afternoon, followed by the presentation of the defense's case.