ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Local law enforcement made three drug-related arrests Thursday.

Deputies with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit and officers with the Martins Ferry Police Department executed a search warrant at a Colerain Pike residence in Martins Ferry, where they arrested Donnie D. Pugh, 40, of Chicago.

According to a release from the sheriff’s office, Pugh was arrested as he allegedly was attempting to flush a large amount of cocaine down the toilet as officers entered. The drugs were recovered. A loaded pistol was also recovered from the residence.

Pugh faces charges of first-degree felony trafficking and possession, third-degree felony tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia, and third-degree felony having weapons under disability, defined by Ohio Revised Code as possessing a weapon while fugitive, under indictment, drug dependent, or convicted of a felony.

His bond totals $60,250.

Anyone with information about Pugh’s alleged drug trafficking operations is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 740-695-7933, ext. 322.

Chief Deputy James Zusack said an unrelated arrest occurred later that night, close to midnight, when two men were reported as “passed out” in a car at the Ohio Valley Plaza.

“A deputy made contact with them. He could see through the window that the one guy had something on him, in his lap,” Zusack said, “an open container containing a white bag with white powder.”

Zusack said one man refused to get out of the car, leading to a brief physical altercation and a charge of resisting arrest.

Tyler Rae Snyder, 35, of Bethesda is charged with misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments and possession of marijuana and fifth-degree possession of drugs. His bond is $3,495.

Clyde Anthony Ellison, 35, of New Concord, Ohio, was arrested on a felony warrant for failure to appear, misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments and resisting arrest, and third-degree felony trafficking in drugs. His bond is $11,500.

Zusack said $828 in cash was seized from the vehicle, along with cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines.