LATEST BUST VERIFIES BIG SANDY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UNDERCOVER AND SCUTTLEBUTT INTEL OF NEW PUSHES OF HEROIN

STARTED EARLIER THIS MONTH INTO OUR REGIONAL AREA ORIGINATING FROM SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE U.S.

Three men were arrested in Johnson County after an undercover “drug purchase” early Thursday morning led to their apprehension. 

According to a press release report from Captain Johnathan Holbrook with the Paintsville Police Department, on Wednesday afternoon, June 26, Captain Holbrook received a tip that two men, identified as Maxwell B. Warrix, 31, of Paintsville, and James Christopher Johnson, 41, of Flat Gap, were on their way to Huntington, West Virginia to pick up Heroin, possibly laced with Fentanyl, to sell. 

Captain Holbrook stated he would use an undercover informant to set up a “buy” with the both Warrix and Johnson. The undercover “buy” was made around 3 A.M. Thursday morning, June 27), in the Staffordsville area of Johnson County. Once the purchase was made by the informant, it was field tested and turned out positive for Heroin. 

Captain Holbrook reported he got a judge to issue a search warrant for a home in Staffordsville, just off Route 40 West and around 6 A.M. Captain Jonathan Holbrook, along with Patrolman Zach Stapleton, Patrolman Jeremy Shepherd, Johnson County District 2 Constable Ryan Caudill and Paintsville Police Chief Mike Roe went to the location.

Once at the residence, the police officers located a male which turned out to be Maxwell Warrix, along with an unidentified female and two children approximately 5 years of age. Officers searched the residence and a vehicle on the property, and during this search they allegedly found methamphetamine in one of the bedrooms. 

Maxwell Warrix was placed under arrest and the unnamed woman was questioned. As the officers were questioning the female, the other two males showed up at the residence. They both were detained and searched and officers allegedly found heroin on both of the men, identified as Chris Johnson and Rodney Castle. Rodney Castle allegedly admitted to the officers that the drugs found in the bedroom was his, and that led to officers to decide the woman would not be arrested at that time. 

All three were charged with the following:

Maxwell B. Warrix was charged with: 

• TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN).

James Christopher Johnson was charged with: 

• TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN),     • POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN).

Rodney A. Castle was charged with: 

• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE), 

• POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN).

All three men were transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. Maxwell Warrix and Jame C. Johsnon were still being held at the BSRDC as of Friday morning, while Rodney A. Castle posted his bail bond and was released later Thursday night

Maxwell Warrix, Rodney Castle, and James C. Johnson all each have multiple arrests in their criminal history record, with Warrix with the biggest rap sheet, with 11 arrests in under the last six years, including four arrests so far in 2019.

Captain Holbrook said their testing of the heroin does not show if it was laced with Fentanyl, but the seized drug contraband will be sent to the Kentucky State Police Lab for additional testing. 

The female at the residence was not charged with any crime, but Captain Holbrook said Social Services were contacted about the young children found in the home. 

Assisting Captain Holbrook at the drug house scene were members of the Paintsville Fire Department. and local EMS.

The drug case remains under investigation by Captain Jonathan Holbrook and the Paintsville Police Deptartment.