Multi-Agency Drug Bust Leads to Three Arrests in Muskingum County

May 1, 2025

Aniyah Hart,

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio–Three Muskingum County residents are facing felony charges after a major drug bust in both Dresden and Frazeysburg.

The Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force and Muskingum County/Zanesville City’s Joint Drug Unit executed a search warrant at 12690 McKee Lane in Frazeysburg last Thursday, April 24, where two individuals were taken into custody. Investigators then served a second warrant at an apartment on West Dave Longaberger Drive in Dresden. After a brief foot pursuit, a third suspect was apprehended.

“Based on two different locations with the search warrants we ended up with Dustin Thorpe and Pheona Trager of Frazeysburg in custody and also a Rylan Burrie. All of them charged with numerous counts of aggravated possession and trafficking, various miscellaneous charges based on the weapons and the drugs that were confiscated,” said Zanesville Police Chief Scott Comstock.

Authorities seized nearly $10,000, over 100 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, 150 Vicodin pills, 18 firearms, 60 grams of cocaine, and approximately two to three pounds of methamphetamine.

Rylan Burrie, 39, of Dresden, faces first-degree felony charges

Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (Methamphetamine), a 1st-degree felony with a Major Drug Offender Specification and a firearm specification
Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a 1st-degree felony with a Major Drug Offender Specification and a firearm specification
Trafficking in Cocaine, a 1st-degree felony with a firearm specification
Possession of Cocaine, a 1st-degree felony with a firearm specification

Dustin Thorpe, 42, of Frazeysburg, faces multiple felony charges

Two counts of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (Methamphetamine), 2nd-degree felonies with firearm specifications
Two counts of Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), 2nd-degree felonies with firearm specifications
Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a 3rd-degree felony with a firearm specification
Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Psilocybin), a 5th-degree felony with a firearm specification

Pheona Trager, 21, of Frazeysburg, also faces multiple felony charges

• Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (Methamphetamine), a 2nd-degree felony with a firearm specification
• Two counts of Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), 2nd-degree felonies with firearm specifications
• Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a 3rd-degree felony with a firearm specification
• Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Psilocybin), a 5th-degree felony with a firearm specification
• Permitting Drug Abuse, a 5th-degree felony with a firearm specification

Investigators say tips from the public continue to play a vital role and are urging residents to continue reporting suspicious activity through the Joint Drug Tip Line.

“To the hard-working citizens, I want them to rest assured that our officers are going to track down, arrest and charge these individuals,” Comstock said. “Every little piece of information we get, no matter how minor it is, we keep that, and it goes into a database because you never know what we’re going to use later to connect something, so we really appreciate the public’s help. We want them to know that we’re still making this a top priority, and it will be as long as we’re in these positions,” Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz added.

All three suspects are currently being held in the Muskingum County Jail on $500,000 bond. The investigation remains ongoing, with additional charges and arrests expected.