PIKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY CRIME NEWS – MAY 15-20, 2024:
SUSPECT GETS IN POLICE STANDOFF; TWO SEPARATE TRAFFIC STOPS NETS DRUG TRAFFICKING BUSTS; MAN WANTED ON NEARLY DOZEN WARRANTS FINALLY CAUGHT
MAY 24, 2024 – written by WADE QUEEN
PIKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY MAN ARRESTED BY PIKEVILLE POLICE AFTER SHORT BUT TENSE STANDOFF
The Pikeville Police Department was able to safely defuse a tense situation on Monday afternoon, May 20, when a man allegedly holed up in his house and threatened to shoot officers.
The potentially dangerous incident began with a report that Herbert J. Courtney, 51, of Pikeville,KY., had violated an emergency protective order. The person reporting the violation told police Herbert Courtney had a rifle and a handgun, and that he had threatened to shoot any officers who showed up at his house.
Pikeville Police Department officers then went to his home on Granite Drive, but Herbert Courtney did not respond to attempts to contact him. Tear gas was then used inside the home, but it had no effect.
The daughter of Herbert Courtney contacted the police officers, saying that he could see the officers on a camera, and that he would not come out.
Herbert Courtney finally began communicating with officers after they announced they had brought in a police dog. He was then taken into custody by officer Patrick Coleman, following a brief struggle.
Herbert Courtney was charged with:
- VIOLATION OF KENTUCKY EPO/DVO,
- *MENACING,
- *TERRORISTIC THREATENING, 3RD DEGREE,
- *RESISTING ARREST.
All four of these charges are misdemeanors. Herbert Courtney was transported to the Pike County Detention Center; where he posted his bond, and was released from PCDC jail.
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PIKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY WOMAN ARRESTED ON TRAFFICKING METH AND POSSESSION OF FENTANYL
A Pike County, Kentucky woman who was pulled over for improper equipment soon found herself staring at a drug trafficking charge, after the officer spotted something suspicious when she went to retrieve her license and insurance.
According to the arrest citation report, on Monday night, May 20, Pikeville Police Department patrolman officer Zachary Bowens pulled over Debra Lynn Smith, 28, of Pikeville, KY., after officer Bowens spotted her driving with a cracked windshield, no side mirror and a burned-out brake light. After the officer asked for her license and insurance, she reached into a backpack, allowing the officer to see a syringe inside.
That discovery gave officer Bowens probable cause to conduct a search, resulting in the discovery of a large amount of meth, a smaller amount of fentanyl, scales and a bag of syringes inside a purse. Debra Smith told officer Bowens that the purse wasn’t hers.
Debra Lynn Smith was arrested by officer Bowens and she was charged with:
- TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (> OR = 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE),
- POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE CARFENTANIL OR FENTANYL DERIVATIVES,
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS,
- NO REAR VIEW MIRROR,
- NO BRAKE LIGHTS (PASSENGER VEHICLES),
- OBSTRUCTED VISION AND/OR WINDSHIELD.
Debra Lynn Smith was transported and lodged in the Pike County Detention Center, where she later on was released from the PCDC after posting her $7,500 full cash bond.
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KENTUCKY STATE POLICE ARREST PIKE COUNTY, KY. MAN WANTED ON ALMOST A DOZEN KENTUCKY & VIRGINIA WARRANTS
A Pike County, Kentucky man wanted on eleven (11) outstanding warrants was taken into custody this past weekend, and also earned an additional charge in the process.
Lacy C. Wolford, 47, of Phelps, KY., was wanted for charges related the theft of siding and contents of a mobile home amounting to more than $10,000; a fugitive warrant out of Virginia for conspiracy and larceny charges; and a number of other charges, including fleeing from police.
When four Kentucky State Police troopers caught up with Lacy Wolford early Sunday morning, May 19, the state police arrest report alleges he tried to run away. One of the troopers fired a taser at him, but missed. However, Lacy Wolford was soon found hiding behind an old vehicle and was arrested by trooper Timothy Smith without further incident.
That earned the bandit Mr. Wolford another charge of fleeing from police. In all, Lacy Wolford is facing at least nineteen (19) or more charges total, which are as the following:
*BAIL JUMPING 1ST OFFENSE (2 SEPARATE CHARGES),
*CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, 1ST DEGREE,
*THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING OR DISPOSITION ALL OTHERS $10,000 < $1,000,000,
*FUGITIVE WARRANT FROM BUCHANAN COUNTY, VIRGINIA,
*FAILURE TO APPEAR (7 SEPARATE CHARGES COUNTS),
*FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 2ND DEGREE (ON FOOT),
*RESISTING ARREST,
*FAILURE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS,
*IMPROPER DISPLAY OF REGISTRATION PLATES,
*IMPROPER REGISTRATION PLATE,
*FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 2ND DEGREE (MOTOR VEHICLE),
*RECKLESS DRIVING.
Lacy Wolford is currently being held as of Thursday, May 23, in the Pike County Detention Center on $37,000 full cash bond; but that is superseded by a no bond allowed due to the fugitive warrant from Virginia.
On top of that, as seen in his mugshot, he is suffering a medical respiratory condition, with him wearing a portable oxygen air hose.
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STATE POLICE ARREST THREE RESIDENTS IN PIKE COUNTY FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING AND METH POSSESSION
Three Pike County, Kentucky residents were arrested following a traffic stop on Wednesday afternoon, May 15, near Shelbiana, KY.
According to the arrest citation, Kentucky State Post 9 Pikeville trooper Nicholas Taylor pulled over a GMC Sierra for what he said in his arrest report were multiple traffic violations. When the trooper spoke to the driver, who was identified as Clarence L. Kilgore, 50, of Ashcamp, KY., the trooper noticed Clarence Kilgore appeared to be under the influence of something.
After showing signs of impairment during a field sobriety test, Clarence Kilgore was arrested and the officer searched the vehicle, finding more than 2 grams of heroin, a small amount of meth, more than $4,000 in cash, and various types of drug paraphernalia.
Both Clarence Kilgore and the two other occupants of the car, who were identified as Brooke Nicole Scroggins, 39, of Elkhorn City, KY., and Anthony Coleman, 35, of Lookout, KY., would claim ownership of the drugs, so all three individuals were arrested by trooper Taylor, with assistance from trooper Joe Slone on the following charges:
Clarence Kilgore was charged with:
*TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN),
*POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS,
*DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE-1ST OFFENSE,
*OPERATING ON SUSPENDED OR REVOKED OPERATORS LICENSE,
*FAILURE OF NON-OWNER OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED INSURANCE/SECURITY, 1ST OFFENSE,
*FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD NO REGISTRATION RECEIPT NO REGISTRATION PLATES,
*FAILURE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS,
*OBSTRUCTED VISION AND/OR WINDSHIELD,
*FAILURE TO APPEAR (SIX SEPARATE CHARGES COUNTS),
*CONTEMPT OF COURT SLANDER/LIBEL RESISTANCE TO ORDER.
Brooke Scroggins was charged with:
*TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN),
*POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS,
*PROMOTING CONTRABAND – 1ST OFFENSE,
*PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL).
Anthony Coleman was charged with:
*TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN),
*POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.
All three suspects were taken to the Pike County Detention Center; where as of Thursday, May 23, Clarence Kilgore is being held on a $10,500 full cash only bond or released on recognizance to be placed in a drug treatment center; Brooke Scroggins is being held on a $10,000 full cash only bond or released on recognize to be placed in a drug treatment center; while Anthony Coleman has since been released from the PCDC jail.
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