WELFARE CHECK LEADS TO NARCOTICS ARREST FOR THREE FROM LOUISA

According to the arrest citation report, on late Thursday night, December 5, Lawrence County Sheriff Office deputy Joseph Osborne, and deputy Travis Music, along with Louisa Police Department patrolwoman Shelby Taylor, all arrived together at the residence.

When deputy Joseph Osborne knocked on the door and announced himself, a male looked through a curtain in the living room and then ran into the bedroom.

Deputy Joseph Osborne said he saw a female run past the door, and that deputy Travis Music saw her through the bedroom window.

When deputy Joseph Osborne went to the back door, he wrote that he observed someone peeking through the back door of the home window but he could not identify them.

Patrolwoman Shelby Taylor was let into the residence by the homeowner, and when deputy Joseph Osborne entered the home, he observed Deborah Ann Copley, 71, of Catlettsburg in the kitchen, who was the person wanted in the indictment warrant, subsequently placed Deborah Copley under arrest.

Deputy Joseph Osborne then conducted a sweep of the residence to check for other occupants, and to which he then located Johnny Lester Ratliff, 58, of Louisa, KY., hiding in the shower. Johnny Ratliff was detained and placed on the couch. As deputy Joseph Osborne continued the sweep, he entered the back bedroom and observed a tray with loose pills and marijuana on it.

Soon thereafter, deputy Joseph Osborne spoke with the elderly man who police were conducting the welfare check on, and he gave consent to search the residence based on the marijuana located in the bedroom.

The arrest citation report went on to state that officers also found a spoon with methamphetamine residue, two marijuana pipes, multiple grinders and rolling papers.

Deputy Joseph Osborne then went into the bathroom where Johnny Ratliff was located and found a razor blade on the sink and an uncapped needle on the floor beside the toilet. When deputy Joseph Osborne removed the lid to the tank of the toilet, he located a baggie of methamphetamine and a baggie of heroin. At that time, deputy Joseph Osborne placed Johnny Ratliff under arrest.

When officers went into another bedroom, they found a bundle of cut straws under the comforter on the bed.

After returning to the living room, deputy Joseph Osborne flipped the couch cushion and located a baggie of blue powder substance believed to be fentanyl, as well as a roll of aluminum foil, baggies with residue in them and a tourniquet.

Johnny Ratliff had been the one sitting on that couch when police arrived and saw him looking through the curtain. Johnny Ratliff told officers that the items under the couch belonged to the other male in the home, identified as Lacy James Hall, 25, of Louisa, KY., who denied the accusation to the officers.

The fourth person, Brenda Lee Graves, 62, of Louisa, KY., admitted to officers that the spoon with methamphetamine residue, two marijuana pipes grinders and rolling papers were found in the bedroom, to which Brenda Graves also admitted she shares with her husband when they stay at the residence.

All four were arrested during this incident, with deputy Joseph Osborne listed as the arresting officer; and all four suspects were charged with following offenses:

Deborah Copley was charged via the indictment warrant with: *ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIME. Deborah Copley was transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville in Johnson County, KY., where she was held on a $20,025 full cash bond.

Johnny Ratliff was charged with: *POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE), *POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN), *POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE FENTANYL, *POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, *DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS, *TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.  Johnny Ratliff was transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he is held on a $10,025 full cash bond.          

Lacy Hall was charged with: *POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE), *POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN), *POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE FENTANYL, *POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, *DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.  Lacy Hall was transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he was held on a $10,025 full cash bond.

Brenda Graves was charged with: *POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE), *POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, *DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS. Brenda Graveswas transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where she was held on a $5,025 full cash bond.

Deborah Copley and Brenda Graves were able to later post their bonds, and have since been released from the BSRDC; while Johnny Ratliff and Lacy Hall still remain in the BSRDC as of Saturday afternoon, December 14.

This case remains under investigation by the Lawrence County Sheriff Office.