Police arrest local man on drug-related charges

A local man who was accused of switching price tags on merchandise at a Columbus store was arrested on several drug-related charges.

Columbus police were sent to Walmart, 735 Whitfield Drive, about a man who was acting suspiciously inside the store, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.

Officers identified the man as Matthew G. Ratliff, 37, Columbus, and determined there was a local warrant for his arrest, Harris said.

When Ratliff was arrested, they found methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and three different controlled substances inside his jacket while searching his clothing prior to taking him to the Bartholomew County Jail, Harris said.

Ratliff was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, three counts of possession of a controlled substance and the warrant.

For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.