SUCCESSES OF CO-OP BY CITY AND COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT NOT TOLD
LAWRENCE COUNTY POLICE AGENCIES CROWING ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ABOUT DRUG BUSTS WHILE STAYING JUST OFF AND JUST UNDER THE RADAR FOR THEIR OPERATIONS.
AUGUST 11, 2019 – written by WADE QUEEN
Drugs, Hillbillies, and Money.
Sounds very much like the song and title track of a Warron Zevon album.
Instead however, this particular phrasing of these words comes in relation to the numerous amount of illegal drug contraband and other related items seized in drug busts this past week around Lawrence County.
And what makes all of this strange is that even though these multiple successful operations by our county police agencies, there was not a second of any coverage by our various different levels of
news organizations throughout the Big Sandy regional area, and also across the Tri-State landscape in general. Even after our local cops have made postings of the info on the busts on their social media accounts,
So better late than never:
In the first drug bust of this past week, on Sunday night August 4th at approximately 9:00 P.M., District 1 Constable Paul Wells initiated a traffic stop on KY Route 828 in the Webbville community for expired registration. During his investigation of the stop, Wells noticed a small bag containing a white crystal like substance.
William Coffey, 30, of Ashland, Kentucky and Jody Price, 30, of Louisa, were subsequently arrested.
William Coffey was charged with:
• FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD,
• OPERATING ON SUSPENDED OR REVOKED OPERATORS LICENSE,
• IMPROPER REGISTRATION PLATE,
• NO REGISTRATION RECEIPT,
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (DRUG UNSPECIFIED),
• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/ POSSESS,
• TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
Jody Price was charged with:
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (DRUG UNSPECIFIED),
• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/ POSSESS,
• TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
Assisting with the investigation was District 3 Constable Daniel Castle and deputy Dwayne Bowen of the Lawrence County Sheriff Department.
###
In the second drug bust of the week, what started out as a routine traffic stop quickly went downhill as it lead to two doses of Narcan and 12 charges for three individuals in the Blaine community.
Constable Daniel Castle performed an anything but routine traffic stop on KY Route 201 Tuesday afternoon, August 6. The driver, Joseph Allen Davis, 43, of Webbville, was arrested and was charged with:
• FAILURE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS,
• FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD,
• OPERATING ON SUSPENDED OR REVOKED OPERATORS LICENSE,
• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/ POSSESS.
The passenger, Joann Candi Kimble, 27, of Louisa, was arrested and was charged with:
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (DRUG UNSPECIFIED),
• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/ POSSESS,
• TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
A third passenger, Melvin Garner Harmon Jr., 28, of Webbville, was arrested and was charged with:
• PUBLIC INTOXICATION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(EXCLUDES ALCOHOL),
• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/ POSSESS,
• TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,
• FAILURE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS
Harmon stated he ate an “8 ball” of pills while Constable Castle was dealing with the other two individuals. Harmon stopped breathing & was administered two doses of Narcan to revive him. He was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center while the other two were lodged at BSRDC in Paintsville..
Melvin Harmon Jr. was kept hospitalized for 3 days until August 9, when he was released to custody of law enforcement and was transported to the BSRDC.
###
D.I.C.E. ARREST
In the third drug bust of the week, on Wednesday, August 7, officers with D.I.C.E. (Drug Interdiction Cooperative Enforcement), in following up a 4 month long D.I.C.E. investigation, sergeant Mason Keefer and deputy Chase Kirk of the Lawrence County Sheriff Department, along with Constable Paul Wells, conducted a traffic vehicle stop on North Highway 3 at the Louisa city limits.
During the stop, the officers searched, discovered and seized a large quantity of drugs, cash, and drug paraphernalia.
However in a further follow up statement, Louisa City Police Chief Greg Fugitt stated that only part of evidence was shown in the photo, and that anyone arrested was not publicly identified as their investigation in the case was ongoing.
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MYSTERY AUGUST 7 DRUG SUSPECT? BOBBY JEAN HAYES
A review of arrests at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on the evening of August 7 shows the only person arrested at that time from Lawrence County (and for the whole day for that matter) was Bobbi Jean Hayes, 40, of Louisa, who was arrested by sergeant Mason Keefer of the Lawrence County Sheriff Office, on which she was charged with:
• SPEEDING 10 MPH OVER LIMIT,
• DISREGARDING STOP SIGN.
• TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 2ND DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (> OR=20 D.U. DRUG UNSPECIFIED SCHEDULE 3),
• NO REGISTRATION PLATES.
BOBBY JEANS HAYES ARREST FOR DRUG POSSESSION ON AUGUST 2.
Bobbi Hayes was also arrested 5 days earlier on August 2, 2019,by deputy Cory Cook of the Lawrence County Sheriff Department, for which she was charged with:
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED Substance
No media coverage because it has become the norm nowadays!! Pause–Rewind–Play
Maybe the media outlets need to do their jobs instead of sitting on their butts expecting everyone to do their jobs for them. And when they do a story they should make sure it’s accurate.
Repeat repeat repeat. Same ppl same problem. The jails need to rehabilitate instead of giving them a time out.
I mean. The inmates do nothing at all and are expected to change. I don’t understand the method
Welcome to Common Wealth!
Make up rules as they go!
How do you explain “1st offense” when the person has been arrested multiple times for the same thing? Oh yeah….Judge Preston
Anyone else wonder what the statistics are for the sheriff’s office this year compare to years past. They don’t seem to be doing as much or anymore than some former officers were. Sad that leadership got rid of the experienced people and ones who were working hard when others weren’t.
They’re all a team! D.I.C.E. Is a combination of all law enforcement teams. I think they’re ALL doing an amazing job. Praying for their safety always
Funny!
The whole “Team” things is just an excuse for the bunch at Sheriff’s Office to ride the coat tails of the other parts of the “Team”. Sure was shame the one in charge was so jealous and childish he couldn’t do what was next for County.
Its probably gotten to where the authorities are wondering what’s the point in wasting manpower and tax dollars trying to get these people off the streets and clean this community up as long as this judge allows these plea agreements for multiple time offenders to take place. I’m all for second chances, but when the defendants make no effort and show no desire to help themselves and to abide by those plea agreements, then it’s time to hand down the proper punishment. When you have defendants openly bragging about how Lawrence county is the best place to be arrested on drug charges….uh HELLO!!!!
I completely disagree with your statement. As a matter of fact, I CHALLENGE YOU, to go to the courthouse, it’s a matter of public record, and get the statistics since Chuck has taken over, and I guarantee there has been more drug arrests since he has taken over then there was in the same amount of time, during any of Garrett’s tenure. Chuck and his whole crew are doing an amazing job. They can’t and don’t control what happens to these people after they arrest them. They are doing their part. The rest is up to the court system.
Talk about clueless!!! Go check out the public records. Guarantee the were officers who did more than ALL them combined while Garrett was in there. So there is NO way there has been more drug arrests since Chuck took over.
No…I don’t wonder. I think they are doing fabulous. Now if we could just get the judges to start slapping down some jail time instead of giving probation to everyone. It’s the same people over and over and over. Throw them in jail. Get them off our streets!!
It’s pretty much constable Daniel Castle doing the work of the entire sheriff’s office. Castle for Sheriff in the next election!
I couldn’t agree with you more!
Castle for sheriff! 🙂
Yeah you mean Barney Fyffe! Daniel is a good man, I know him very well. But he has let this constable thing go to his head. He’s running around like he is the sheriff. I think he needs to look up, read, and know what a constable is. He is NOT on the Sherrifs Dept., he is NOT a city cop, and he is NOT a police officer of any kind. He is a constable. He needs to know the difference in job responsibilities. And before you all start going off on me (and I could care less if you do), then you also should google it and know the difference in a constable and a police officer. Again I like Daniel, I think he is a great man of God, but I also think he has let this constable go to his head and he has taken it WAY overboard!!!
He has let it go to his head? I don’t think so. He is out there getting it done! I’ve never heard of a harder working constable. I thought they were a joke before I began reading about what Mr. Castle is accomplishing.
Did he arrest you or something?
Don’t be jealous because Daniel bust up out of the dirt of the earth in Blaine and has a goal and a drive to make America safe! I pray he runs for sherrif. And when he gets it may your doors be safe unlocked! Rest easy haters 💯!
HaHa…Lawrence County missed their chance at a real Sheriff that would be out busting people like they needed. So if you think by Daniel being out arresting people that will get him elected Sheriff then you definitely missed the last election. Lawrence County doesn’t want REAL law enforcement…they want a buddy and that’s what they got.
A Constable, other than collecting taxes has the EXACT authority as the sheriff. The Constable has more authority than a city officer. I suggest you read the KRS.
I had been selling and doing drugs for years in Louisa. Then, after Chuck became sheriff, I got caught quick. It was all over this site, front page of the big sandy, and on WSAZ and WYMT. I know that these may not have made headlines, but I’ve now been clean for 5 months as of the 24th of this month. I’m also in drug court and finally getting my life back.
Jason is still in jail, but has also woke up and will also surprise everyone when he gets out and everyone sees that we aren’t the same as we were. No longer homeless either. #wedorecover