COAL GROVE — Area authorities arrested two men on drug charges Monday night. Both are familiar faces to law enforcement.

Thurman Harshbarger III, 30, was arrested at his 64 Township Road 181, Ironton residence and charged with trafficking in marijuana. During the arrest, officers

say they confiscated 8-1/2 pounds of marijuana, $2,300 in cash, a set of scales and five weapons.

Harshbarger is already on four years probation for 2006 drug convictions. Since he is on probation and was in possession of weapons he is not allowed to have while on probation, Lawrence County Sheriff Tim Sexton said he will likely face additional charges. The marijuana would have a street value of

$6,000-$10,000, Sexton said.

Authorities also arrested Joseph Wilson, 20, of 308 Washington St., Coal Grove, who also lists an address on Township Road 301. He is charged with trafficking in marijuana and possession of criminal tools. Sexton said officers confiscated a set of digital scales when they arrested him.

Wilson is facing other charges from an arrest in April. Ironton police alleged Wilson and three other men trespassed on the grounds of Keystone Coal on Dayton Lane and were in the process of trying to steal copper when they were caught. The other men were able to flee from police at that time, but Wilson was apprehended.

Sexton said both arrests were the result of an investigation prompted by numerous complaints about marijuana trafficking in the Coal Grove area. Some of the people who contacted authorities alleged that the drug was being sold to juveniles.

“We will continue to investigate any form of drug trafficking and certainly anyone in the public, if they have any information, they may give us a call,” Sexton said.

The Lawrence County Drug and Major Crimes Task Force has a tip line: 534-5830. Information may be left anonymously. Those who want an officer to return the call should leave a telephone number.

In addition to the sheriff’s office and the drug task force, Coal Grove police and officers with the Lawrence County Adult Probation Agency were also involved in the arrests.

Both men were taken to the Lawrence County Jail.