OAK HILL, W.Va., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Authorities in West Virginia said a homeowner was arrested on drug charges after deputies noticed a warning sign on the house's door directed toward "snitches."
The Fayette County Sheriff's Office said Cpl. C.M. Fitzwater and Deputies Rachel Stephens and M. A. Sifers responded about 10:15 a.m. Thursday to an Oak Hill neighborhood to follow up on a report of joyriding.
The sheriff's office said the deputies noticed a sign on a residence's front door that appeared to imply the sale of drugs inside the house.
The sign read:
"Due to snitches, everyone entering my home is subject to being searched. All cellphones and drinks will be left outside!! (If you're not a snitch, it won't offend you if I search you!!)"
"This, of course, led deputies to the conclusion that drugs were most likely being sold from this residence," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
Deputies questioned the home's residents and received permission to conduct a search, which turned up significant amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, and unidentified substances believed to be narcotics.
Homeowner April Lynn Lavender, 38, was arrested and charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. She was booked into the Southern Regional Jail in lieu of $10,000.00 bond.
Kristie Weis, 22, was also arrested during the probe and charged with misdemeanor joyriding. She was arraigned in the Fayette County Magistrate Court and remanded to the Southern Regional Jail in lieu of $1,500.00 bond.
"While drug investigations often require a great deal of time and effort, sometimes the criminals make our job pretty easy," Sheriff Steve Kessler said. "If someone posts a sign on their front door about searching 'snitches,' it's a pretty safe bet that there are illegal drugs being sold out of that location."
