Five out of state dopers caught in two separate drug busts by sheriff’s men and KSP
Three Kermit men nabbed near SCHS
MARCH 21, 2017 – written by WADE QUEEN
It has been a bad week if you are a drug dealer from West Virginia and you happen to be in Martin County, Kentucky.
A total of 5 drug suspects were caught in two separate busts on the last several days by the efforts of the Martin County Sheriff Department with assistance from the Kentucky State Police.
In the first drug bust, on late Wednesday night March 15, 2017, deputies in Martin County received a complaint of a possible impaired driver on Route 292. A traffic stop on the suspicious vehicle led to three arrests not long after deputies made a controlled buy from the same people that were in the vehicle that had been pulled over.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Department soon thereafter arrested Richard B. Flowers, 25, Danny Nelson, 25, and Thomas Tyler Watts, 18, all whom are from Kermit, West Virginia on multiple charges.
According to a press release by Sheriff John Kirk, “Officer observed the vehicle swerving on the road, made a traffic stop, Ultimately a KSP trooper made an arrest for DUI on the driver,” stated Kirk.
Officers said they found scales and something very familiar to the deputies in the vehicle. “We also recovered our buy money and $425 dollars in cash,” Kirk said.
Sheriff Kirk said not long before the traffic stop his deputies made a controlled buy involving all three men. Deputies said the controlled buy happened near Sheldon Clark High School, which led to additional charges for all three men of trafficking a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school..
“We may not of actually made the arrests last night on the meth had we not gone ahead and made the traffic stop for the DUI,” Sheriff Kirk stated.
Kirk said there’s a lot of meth in the county, but every arrest makes a difference.
“All in all it was a good, successful bust Wednesday night and we were able to put people who are contributing to the drug epidemic here in jail,” Sheriff Kirk said.
In all the total charge list for the Kermit drug trio were the following:
Richard B. Flowers: • TRAFFICKING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF SCHOOL, • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE), • OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER/INFLUENCE ALCOHOL/DRUGS/ETC. .08 (AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE) 1ST OFFENSE, • FAILURE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS, • NO REGISTRATION RECEIPT, • FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD, • FAILURE OF NON-OWNER OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED INSURANCE/SECURITY, 1ST OFFENSE.
Danny Nelson: • PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL), • TRAFFICKING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF SCHOOL, • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE).
Thomas Tyler Watts: • PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL), • TRAFFICKING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF SCHOOL, • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE).
In the second drug bust, two men from Saint Albans, West Virginia were arrested in Warfield, Kentucky early Sunday evening March 19.
According to a press release from Sheriff John Kirk, Andre L. Pardue, Jr. and Jonathan B. Brewer were arrested on a slew of drug charges and other criminal offenses.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said dispatchers issued a BOLO for a gold Cadillac possibly selling drugs. Deputies spotted the vehicle in the area of Dempsey Apartments near Warfield, Ky in Martin County and made a traffic stop after the driver failed to use a turn signal.
A K-9 was used to search the vehicle, and deputies learned there was marijuana and syringes inside.
Officers said they also found Xanax, two baggies of what they believe to be heroin, and one baggie of what they believe to be methamphetamine.
Brewer was the driver and Pardue was the passenger.
Brewer did not have any identification on him, according to the criminal report. Deputies said he gave false information saying he was someone else. Police investigators also said Brewer’s young son was also in the vehicle.
In all the total charge list for the Saint Albans drug duo were the following:
Jonathan B. Brewer: • SERVING BENCH WARRANT FOR COURT, • FAILURE TO OR IMPROPER SIGNAL, • NO OPERATORS-MOPED LICENSE, • FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD, • GIVING OFFICER FALSE NAME OR ADDRESS, • ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR, • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE). • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (>OR=2 GRAMS HEROIN BUT<100 GRAMS HEROIN), • POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA,, • POSSESSION A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, • DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.
Andre L. Pardue, Jr.,: • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE). • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (>OR=2 GRAMS HEROIN BUT<100 GRAMS HEROIN), • POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, • DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS, • POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
Sheriff Kirk emphatically emphasized he wants the public to know how seriously he takes drug use in the local community.
“If you’re going to sell dope in Martin County then we’re coming after you,” Kirk said.
Sheriff Kirk also said the community is his eyes and ears and he wants to thank the community for their tips, and that he encourages anyone who sees something suspicious to call the sheriff’s office.
