THREE JOHNSON COUNTY MEN ARRESTED AFTER POLICE FIND LARGE AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA IN HOMELESS SHELTER IN PAINTSVILLE
POT-DEALING TRIO GET BUSTED AFTER EMPLOYEES AT FACILITY CALLED POLICE REPORTEDLY DUE TO ONE OF THE MEN HAD A GUN, WHICH WAS PROHIBITIVE VIOLATION ACCORDING TO THE PROPERTY RULES
JUNE 1, 2023 – written by WADE QUEEN
Three Johnson County men who were residents of a homeless shelter were all arrested by the Paintsville Police Department, after officers found a large amount of marijuana in their room.
According to the arrest report, Paintsville Police officers were called to the Opportunity House, located at 501 Jefferson Avenue, on late Sunday night, May 28, after they were notified by employees of the housing shelter that one of the residents, identified as John L. Strong, 33, of Paintsville, KY., was walking around outside with a gun, even though firearms are prohibited from the property.
Officers went to the man’s apartment to inform him that he was not allowed to have a gun and obtained his permission to retrieve it. As an officer walked through the apartment, he spotted an open book bag with a black container inside.
After obtaining permission to look inside the container, the officer found a large amount of marijuana, along with plastic bags and over $600 in cash. The arrest report does not specify how much marijuana was found, except that it was over half a pound.
Paintsville Police officer Tyler Cable arrested John Strong, along with two other men in the apartment, identified as Bobby G. Ward, 36, of Paintsville, KY., and Kenneth Dixon, 38, of Paintsville, KY.
All three men were each charged with the following offenses:
John L. Strong was charged with:
*TRAFFICKING IN MARIJUANA ( 8 OZ TO < 5 LBS.) 1ST OFFENSE,
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – DELIVER/MANUFACTURE,
*HINDERING PROSECUTION OR APPREHENSION-2ND DEGREE,
*POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 3RD DEGREE – DRUG UNSPECIFIED.
Bobby G. Ward was charged with:
*TRAFFICKING IN MARIJUANA ( 8 OZ TO < 5 LBS.) 1ST OFFENSE,
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – DELIVER/MANUFACTURE,
*HINDERING PROSECUTION OR APPREHENSION-2ND DEGREE,
*POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 3RD DEGREE – DRUG UNSPECIFIED.
Kenneth Dixon was charged with:
*TRAFFICKING IN MARIJUANA ( 8 OZ TO < 5 LBS.) 1ST OFFENSE,
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – DELIVER/MANUFACTURE,
*POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 3RD DEGREE – DRUG UNSPECIFIED,
*POSSESSION OF HANDGUN BY CONVICTED FELON,
*SERVING PAROLE VIOLATION WARRANT,
*NON-PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS, FEES OR FINES,
*CONTEMPT OF COURT LIBEL/SLANDER RESISTANCE TO ORDER.
All three men were taken to and were lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville very early Monday morning.
John Strong and Bobby Ward have since been released from the BSRDC after they post their cash bond, while Kenneth Dixon remains locked up as of Thursday night, June 1.
