TWO SEPARTE DRUG INVESTIGATION CASES IN PIKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY RESULTS IN FIVE TRAFFCIKING ARRESTS OF FOUR RESIDENTS FROM VIRIGINIA AND FLORIDA MAN
JUNE 27, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
RANDALL SCOTT NICLEY.
ANGELA D. BISHOP.
DONALD ROBERT BAIN.
Five people from two other states have been arrested following two drug investigation cases in Pike County, Kentucky; one by the Pikeville Police Department; and the other by the Kentucky State Police.
The first drug investigation case on Thursday night, June 25, led Pikeville Police Department officers to the Family Dollar store on Card Mountain Road. There, they made contact with three suspects, Donald Robert Bain, 46, of Tazewell, Virginia.; Angela D. Bishop, 47, of Blacksburg, Virginia.; and Randall Scott Nicley, 46, of Apopka, Florida.
Donald Bain was found to have a Crown Royal bag tucked into his waistband. After the examining of it, police found three bags inside which appeared to contain meth, but which Donald Bain claimed were Epsom salt.
All three suspects were arrested for *TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (>= 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE); with Donald Bain had Pike County District Court bench warrant on the charge of: *FAILUE TO APPEAR; and all three individuals are being held in the Pike County Detention Center in Pikeville.
The suspected drugs will be sent to the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab for identification.
In the second drug investigation case, two people from Virginia were arrested in Pike County after being found with meth during a traffic stop.
ERIC BRANDON RATLIFF.
TAMMY LYNN SMITH.
Kentucky State Police pulled over a vehicle on Route 194 at Phelps, KY., after noticing it had a paper temporary tag that had blown upside down, rendering it unreadable.
While talking with the driver, Tammy Lynn Smith, 33, of Grundy, Virginia; officers noticed a passenger, who was later identified as Eric Brandon Ratliff, 39, of Grundy, Virginia; trying to conceal something in his hands. KSP troopers ultimately found that Eric Ratliff was holding a folded piece of aluminum foil that had a white powder inside. Eric Ratliff then said he thought the powder was either meth or fentanyl, and that he had found it in the floor of a gas station. Eric Ratliff was detained and placed in the back of a police car.
Troopers removed the remaining occupants from the car, at which time Tammy Smith suddenly closed a center console compartment, but not before police spotted a glass pipe inside.
When patting down Tammy Smith, officers found a large bulge in her waistband, which she first said was her purse. When officers asked to look inside, they said Tammy Smith became nervous and said that the purse was not hers, but had been stolen from another woman by one of her passengers. Tammy Smith further said the passenger planted the purse in the flood under her feet, so she hid it because she thought it might contain drugs.
Police then found four bags of meth in the purse, along with other items, including a phone, which Tammy Smith said was hers. Tammy Smith was then arrested and charged for meth trafficking and other charges.
Back in the police car containing Eric Ratliff, police found a gun hidden under his seat, and in-cabin video allegedly showed him attempting to hide something.
Officers said Eric Ratliff also gave them a series of false names for more than an hour, until they contacted a Virginia law enforcement officer who was able to identify him. Officers also discovered he was wanted on a fugitive warrant for not appearing to answer drug-related charges in Buchanan County, Virginia. Eric Ratliff is now charged with felon in possession of a handgun, drug possession and other charges.
Tammy Smith and Eric Ratliff were transported to and are now being held in the Pike County Detention Center.
