Aetnaville Husband And Wife Busted By Drug Task Force - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Officers from the Belmont County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 922 Lincoln Avenue in Aetnaville.

They say they found pills, marijuana and drug use instruments.

They believe that Frank and LaTonna Thatcher had been conducting drug transactions in the presence of their own children.

LaTonna Thatcher was at the house when the bust occurred, but Frank Thatcher was out.

"We received information from the people inside the house that he had taken one of his children to Wheeling Hospital," said Chief John McFarland. "At that point in time we faxed a copy of the arrest warrant to Wheeling Police and they went there and picked him up and transported him to the Northern Regional Jail."

Police say Frank Thatcher is charged with three counts of drug trafficking in the presence of a child, drug possession, possession of drug instruments and child endangerment.

They say LaTonna Thatcher was served with an outstanding warrant on unpaid fines for child endangerment, and charged with drug possession.

It was the first action by the Belmont County Drug Task Force since it came under new management.

The task force was led by the late Bethesda Police Chief Tim Zdanski.

Now it's in the hands of Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland.

McFarland says the late Zdanski left behind "big shoes to fill."

He says he will work every day to continue his mission to make Belmont County a better place.

McFarland also commends Officer Tim Starkey for good investigative work in the Aetnaville drug bust.