LONDON, KY - Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting that: Laurel County Sheriff John Root along with Sheriff's detectives, deputies, and K-9 teams arrested 23 individuals this past week following the continuing "War on Drugs" that Sheriff Root pledged that his office would continually conduct.
While conducting drug investigations during “Operation Ice Storm”, and executing arrest warrants primarily for drug trafficking of Meth and Heroin based on undercover investigations conducted by Laurel Sheriff’s detectives, investigators found subjects with:
- Meth
- Heroin
- Assorted pills
- Hypodermic needles
- Glass pipes with white residue (suspected Meth)
- Other paraphernalia
There was a total of 20 drug trafficking charges and 11 possession of drugs charges related to Meth and Heroin.
Those arrested were identified as:
Andrew Jackson age 34 of Hanes Baker Rd., Corbin arrested off Hanes Baker Road charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Heroin
- Criminal trespassing – third-degree
Roger Amis age 39 of W. City Dam Rd., Corbin arrested off Hanes Baker Road charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Heroin
- Criminal trespassing – third-degree
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
In addition this subject was charged on a Whitley District Court bench warrant of arrest charging:
- Failure to appear in court
John David Deboy age 49 of Dallas, Texas arrested off Hanes Baker Road charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Heroin
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
Beatrice Eversole age 47 of Highway 1376, East Bernstadt arrested off Highway 1376 charged on a Laurel district warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Kenneth F. Miller age 38 of Lake Rd., London arrested off Lake Road charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine;
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
In addition this subject was charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Travis S. Merritt age 40 of Waterworks Rd., London arrested off waterworks Road charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective Bryon Lawson charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
In addition this subject was charged on a Laurel Circuit Court bench warrant of arrest charging:
- Probation violation related to Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Chad F. Hacker age 29 of E. 2nd St., London arrested off E. 2nd St. charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective Bryon Lawson charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Jamie Lee Howard age 40 of Roy Black Rd., London arrested off Hammock Road charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective Bryon Lawson charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Kimberly Croucher age 32 of Morentown Rd., London arrested off Morentown Road in London charged with:
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
In addition this subject was charged on a Madison District Court bench warrant of arrest charging Failure to appear in court on charges of:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Heroin
Melissa Helton age 36 of Ridge View Dr., London arrested off Ridge View Drive charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective Bryon Lawson charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Gary Wagers age 43 of Morentown Rd., London arrested off Morentown Road in London charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – second offense – Methamphetamine
- Persistent felony offender I
Bryan Robinson age 41 of Fire Station Rd., London arrested off Barbourville Street in London charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective Bryon Lawson charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Charles Lee Scruggs age 39 of Barbourville St., London arrested off Barbourville Street in London charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective Bryon Lawson charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first offense – Heroin
Douglas H. Roark age 63 of Taylor School Rd., London arrested off Taylor Bridge Road charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
Kennedy K. Hatfield age 36 of London arrested off Taylor Bridge Road charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
Teddy Ray Hedrick III age 24 of Taylor Bridge Rd., London arrested off Keavy Road charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first offense – Fentanyl
Kevin Martin age 30 of Ester Ln., London arrested off Byble Road charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Ashley Lewis age 30 of 4 Oaks Rd., London charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Lloyd Jordan Burkhart age 27 of Pleasure View Rd., London arrested off Hammock Road charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Theft by unlawful taking under $500
Farlin Lawson age 53 of London arrested off Hammack Road charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Robert Young age 52 of Maplesville Rd., London arrested off KY 192 in London charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Donnie Simpson age 65 of Little Pittsburgh Rd., London arrested off old KY 30 charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
Stephen Carpenter age 42 of Barbourville Rd., London arrested off Barbourville Street in London charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Possession of Drug paraphernalia
In addition, this subject was charged on a Laurel District Court criminal summons obtained by Laurel Sheriff's Detective James Sizemore charging:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – second offense – Methamphetamine
All arrested suspects were lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photos of the accused are courtesy of Laurel County Correctional Center.
More arrests related to this investigation will be occurring.
Assisting on the investigation and arrests were: Laurel County Sheriff John Root, Maj. Chuck Johnson, Capt. Robbie Grimes, Lieut. Chris Edwards, Detective James Sizemore, Detective Bryon Lawson, Detective Robert Reed, and Detective Taylor McDaniel. Also assisting were Sheriff's Deputies and Bailiffs.
When campaigning for Sheriff 10 years ago, Sheriff John Root promised the voters that he would wage war on drugs in Laurel County. He has kept that promise.
This past week’s drug arrests continues to show Sheriff John Root's level of commitment to continue this pledge.
His office has the full cooperation of Laurel County Attorney Jodi Albright and Laurel Commonwealth Attorney Jackie Steele as the Laurel County Sheriff's Office and Laurel county's prosecutors work side-by-side to eradicate the drugs which destroy the future of Laurel County.
