PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — A late-night traffic stop in Portsmouth culminated in the seizure of an estimated $9,000 worth of illicit drugs, including a half-pound of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl.
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman announced the felony arrests of a Kentucky man and a Portsmouth woman following the highway enforcement action late Wednesday evening, May 20, 2026.
Warrants Spark Late-Night Highway Stop
The incident began at approximately 11:12 p.m. when Deputy Chase Johnson pulled over a black Chevrolet traveling westbound on US 52 near Cole Avenue. The deputy initiated the stop after a routine records check indicated that the vehicle’s registered owner was wanted on outstanding arrest warrants.
While the registered owner was not inside the vehicle, deputies quickly discovered that the male passenger, 31-year-old Corey D. Bertram, had an active arrest warrant issued through the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office.
Hidden Compartments and Cruisercam Discoveries
During a lawful search of the vehicle following Bertram’s arrest, Deputy Johnson uncovered a plastic bag on the passenger side packed with a substantial amount of suspected methamphetamine.
As deputies moved to detain the female driver, 29-year-old Sara M. Lansing, she blurting out an unsolicited statement denying ownership of anything inside the vehicle before being informed of the discovery. Both suspects were read their Miranda rights, and Lansing was temporarily secured in the back of a cruiser.
The investigation quickly uncovered further hidden contraband:
- The Cruiser Stash: After Lansing was removed from the patrol car so Deputy Carver could conduct a physical search, Deputy Ratcliff discovered a silver container stashed where Lansing had just been sitting. The container held multiple small baggies filled with a white powdery substance.
- The Black Box: Bertram eventually took responsibility for the narcotics in the vehicle, admitting to deputies that he had purchased a half-pound of methamphetamine. He directed officers to a black box in the back seat, which contained suspected crack cocaine and fentanyl—a lethal synthetic opioid frequently referred to on the street as “Slow.”
In addition to the narcotics, deputies seized $1,264 in cash from Lansing, which authorities suspect to be direct proceeds from drug trafficking. In total, the haul weighed 238 grams with a street value of roughly $9,000.
Formal Charges and Arraignments
Both suspects were transported to the Scioto County Jail and made their initial appearances for arraignment in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
- Corey D. Bertram (31, of Garrison, Kentucky) faces first-degree felony charges of Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, alongside a secondary fifth-degree felony count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.
- Sara M. Lansing (29, of Portsmouth, Ohio) has been charged with first-degree felony Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs and third-degree felony Tampering with Evidence.
Sheriff Thoroughman credits the vigilant teamwork of Deputies Johnson, Ratcliff, and Carver for removing these dangerous drugs from local streets. Residents wishing to report suspected drug activity can anonymously contact the Southern Ohio Task Force tip line at (740) 354-5656 or via email at [email protected].
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
