NEWS RELEASE
August 3, 2022
Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer and Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman
announce that a Portsmouth, Ohio resident has been arrested on drug charges resulting from an
investigation conducted by the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force.
At approximately 8:42 a.m. on August 3, 2022, Task Force Officers assisted by Portsmouth
Police Department SWAT executed a narcotics - related search warrant at the residence of 43-
year-old Ronald Dee Swords located at 1515 Apartment 3, Summit St. Portsmouth, Ohio.
During a search officers discovered and seized approximately 59 grams of suspected Heroin,
$2,530 cash, digital scales and additional evidence of drug trafficking. The estimated street
value of the suspected drug seized is $7,080.
Swords was charged with Possession of Drugs and Trafficking in Drugs, both felonies of the first
degree.
Swords was placed in the Scioto County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Portsmouth
Municipal Court on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
The case will eventually be forwarded to the Scioto County Prosecutor's Office to be presented to a Scioto County Grand Jury for the consideration of additional felony charges against Ronald Swords.
Chief Brewer and Sheriff Thoroughman would like to thank the tactical medics from the
Portsmouth Fire Department for their assistance with execution of the warrant and request
anyone wishing to leave drug information for the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force, to phone the
Task Force tip line at (740) 354-5656 or email drugs@sciotocountysheriff.com. All information
will be kept confidential and anonymous.