Laurel County, KY - Sheriff John Root is reporting that the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office conducted "Operation Turning Up the Heat" on Wednesday morning June 1st, 2016 seeking 35 individuals on drug trafficking and possession charges throughout Laurel County.
4 teams of sheriff’s deputies and other officers, armed with arrest warrants based on undercover investigations conducted by Laurel Sheriff’s Detective Jason Back and Detective James Sizemore arrested 27 suspects charging various Illegal Drug Trafficking and Possession Drug offenses, and lodged them in the Laurel County Detention Facility.
In addition, other wanted persons were also located. These arrests were the result of a 3 month undercover investigation conducted by the sheriff's office.
Laurel County Jailer Jamie Mosley provided 3 prisoner transport vans to assist with the large number of persons to be arrested and transported to the detention center.
Those suspects arrested are identified as:
1. Dustin Owens age 42 of Shelbyville charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – second offense – heroin; persistent felony offender I
2. Jessica Davidson age 23 of Old Crab Orchard Rd., London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – morphine
3.Davin Hacker age 22 of Old Crab Orchard Rd., London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – oxycodone and morphine
4. Marty Crawford age 44 of Shields Ln., Apartments, London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense– hydrocodone and methamphetamine; trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense; persistent felony offender I; fraudulent use of a credit card
5. Kimberly Manes age 34 of Little Dr., Apartments, London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – oxycodone
6. Richard Myles Fuston age 26 of Pine St., London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense; and two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance – second-degree – first offense – schedule 4 tablets, schedule 5 tablets and crystal methamphetamine
7. Matthew Allen age 32 of Parker Rd., London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – oxycodone
8. Michael Gross age 40 of Orange Blossum Lane, London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – hydrocodone
9. Danny Hammons age 38 of Valentine Rd, Keavy charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – crystal methamphetamine
10. Kortney Wilder age 20 of Baker Ridge Rd., Keavy charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense– crystal methamphetamine; and engaging in organized crime
11. Brandon Isom age 19 of Wise Owl Road, Keavy charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – third-degree – first offense – Xanax
12. Ricky Collett age 45 Highway 552, Keavy charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense; and trafficking in a controlled substance first-degree first offense – oxycodone and hydrocodone
13. Randy Collins age 32 of Moore Valentine Rd., Keavy charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – crystal methamphetamine
14. David Gerguson age 58 of Laurel Pl., Apartments on West Carter Rd., London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – hydrocodone
15. Jonathon Benge age 39 of W. 5th St., Corbin charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – oxycodone
16. Billy Fouts age 58 of McWhorter Road, London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense
17. Clyde Hubbard age 58 of Line Creek Rd., London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense; trafficking in a controlled substance first-degree – first offense – oxycodone and hydrocodone
18. Adam Spurlock age 20 of E.J. Lane, London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – crystal methamphetamine
19. Tonya Eversole age 46 of North US Highway 25, East Bernstadt charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – crystal methamphetamine
20. Judy Wilder age 63 of Baker Ridge Rd., Keavy charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – second offense – oxycodone; engaging in organized crime; persistent felony offender I
21. Jonathan Barrett age 25 of South Laurel Rd., London charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – second offense – crystal methamphetamine
22. Joshua Eversole age 25 of Public Rd., London charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – oxycodone and crystal methamphetamine; and a Laurel County arrest warrant obtained by KSP Detective Chris Roberts charging trafficking in a controlled substance – second-degree – first offense; and 2 Laurel County bench warrants of arrest charging operating a motor vehicle under the influence and other traffic violations
23. Larry Wilder age 45 of Baker Ridge Rd., Keavy charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and engaging in organized crime
Also arrested and found with outstanding warrants of arrest as deputies conducted their roundup of drug suspects were the following individuals wanted on other charges:
1. Daven Wilder age 23 of Baker Ridge Rd., Keavy charged with a Whitley County warrant of arrest charging burglary – third-degree and criminal mischief – second-degree; a Laurel County bench warrant of arrest for failure to appear on public intoxication – controlled substances; a Laurel County bench warrant of arrest for failure to appear in court on charges of public intoxication – controlled substances; and a Laurel County bench warrant of arrest for failure to appear in court on charges of alcohol intoxication in a public place and disorderly conduct – second-degree
2. Joshua Mills age 32 of Roadon Lane, London charged on a Fayette County bench warrant of arrest for failure to appear in court on charges of operating on suspended or revoked operators license and other traffic violations
3. Michelle Neal age 40 Of Shields Ln., London charged on a Whitley County bench warrant of arrest for failure to appear in court and a second Whitley County bench warrant of arrest for failure to appear in court on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
4. Brenda Smith age 54 Of Little Dr., London charged with giving officer false name or address; resisting arrest; and menacing.
Assisting in the arrests Wednesday were:
Four teams of officers headed by Sheriff John Root comprised of: Laurel Sheriff's deputies,bailiffs, CSO's, Laurel Sheriff's Office Special Response Unit led by Major Rodney Van Zant, Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Grigsby and his K-9 dog Akim, Laurel County Detention Officers, and London Office of the U.S. Marshal Service.
Also assisting were Laurel Commonwealth Attorney Jackie Steele, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Brandon Jones, Laurel County Attorney Jodi Albright, and Rachel Benge with KSP.
Arrests will be continuing. Sheriff Root extended a special thanks to Lincoln County Sheriff Curt Folger for assistance of his department's K-9 to assist on arrests here.
Laurel Commonwealth Attorney Jackie Steele stated he and his office stand ready to assist the sheriff's office on prosecuting drug traffickers in this area to help make Laurel County a better, safer place to live.
Laurel County Attorney Jodi Albright commended Sheriff Root on his continuing efforts on the war against drugs." When campaigning for Sheriff six years ago, John Root promised the voters that he would wage war on the drug dealers of Laurel County. I would have to say he has kept that promise. His office has the full cooperation of the Laurel County Attorney as we work side-by-side to eradicate the drugs which destroy the future of this County."
Sheriff Root stated that he wanted these arrests of area drug traffickers to reemphasize his promise that his office will be continuing to fight the war on drugs as he promised citizens that he would.
