A Columbus man was recently indicted for allegedly trafficking heroin and cocaine in Washington C.H.

Neathen McClendon is charged with trafficking in heroin and possession of heroin, second-degree felonies; tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine, fourth-degree felonies; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor of the second degree. He pleaded “not guilty” to these charges at his Feb. 22 arraignment hearing in Fayette County Common Pleas Court.

The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 5 when McClendon was reportedly found parked in the Thompson’s Depot parking lot at 212 E. Elm St. in Washington C.H. A Fayette County Sheriff’s Office detective with assistance from a Washington C.H. Police Department officer went to the parking lot to serve McClendon with an outstanding arrest warrant for falsification.

As officers asked McClendon to get out of his vehicle, he allegedly became argumentative. Authorities said McClendon attempted to hide items between the seat and the door frame.

Once McClendon finally agreed to get out of the vehicle, a plastic bag with suspected heroin and crack cocaine, as well as a plastic bag with suspected marijuana, were in plain view, according to authorities.

The items were retrieved and McClendon was taken into custody without further incident. A digital scale, multiple cell phones, and a small amount of cash were reportedly found inside the vehicle.

McClendon is being held in the Fayette County Jail on a $50,000 bond.