Three Arrested On Drug Charges At Harrington Hotel - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

HARRINGTON, Del. - A simple bicycle theft turned into a big drug bust.

55-year-old Lonnie Spraque, 25-year-old Michael Stone and 27-year-old Gregory Obenchain - all who were employees at the Delaware State Fair, now face a long list of drug charges.

A Harrington police officer was investigating a stolen bike found at the AmericInn hotel right across the street from the fairgrounds, when it all unfolded. "He was talking to the clerk and the defendant, later known as defendant, came down and asked if he could put his bike inside. That's when my officer made contact with the subject," Harrington Police Chief Norman Barlow said. The defendant - Obenchain, confessed the bike was stolen.

The officer also found a white powdered substance on Obenchain who then led the officer to his hotel room. "He needed clothes because he thought he was going to jail, and the officer went in the room and located a bunch of more stuff"," said Chief Barlow. During a search of the room police found, 2.9 grams of methamphetamine, 23 grams of marijuana, 33 pills, and drug paraphernalia. While still on scene Obenchain became disorderly with officers, and started to resist arrest, during the struggle, he suffered minor injuries. Two of the men were arrested on site, Obenchain was taken to the hospital. "He stayed in the hospital because he had the drugs in his system. He wasn't acting right. He was acting very combative- out of character," Chief Barlow said.

DNREC and the fire department were called to the scene to remove the methamphetamines and to make sure the fumes it produces were not harmful. "They brought scientists with them and I guess they have to check the levels and make sure that the levels aren't too high. The levels ended up reading low. They evacuated a couple rooms around, but didn't require the whole evacuation of the hotel," Chief Barlow said.

All three were charged with manufactures, delivers or possess with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, maintaining a drug property, and other related offenses. Obenchain was additionally charged with receiving stolen property. Spraque and Stone are both being held at Sussex Correctional Institute on $8,000 bond. Obenchain is being held on $14,700 secured bond.