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19 targeted in drug busts |
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Written by Greg Bird and Andrew Powell
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Friday, 30 October 2009 |
A six-month investigation led to the indictment of 19 individuals for alleged drug trafficking in McCreary County Monday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 12 of those individuals have been arrested as part of a multi-agency round-up throughout the week.
A six-month investigation led to the indictment of 19 individuals for alleged drug trafficking in McCreary County Monday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 12 of those individuals have been arrested as part of a multi-agency round-up throughout the week.
The cooperative investigation by Operation UNITE and the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office targeted suspected drug traffickers, utilizing confidential witnesses and undercover agents to purchase illegal narcotics.
Agents were able to purchase OxyContin, Hydrocodone, Suboxone and marijuana over the course of the investigation.
The evidence was collected and presented to the McCreary County Grand Jury last week.
The Grand Jury indicted the19 suspects on Monday and officers quickly obtained warrants on all individuals.
Officers from the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department, Operation UNITE, Kentucky State Police and KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement dispersed throughout the county that afternoon in an attempt to arrest the suspects before word of the indictments began to leak out.
“Sheriff Gus Skinner has worked side-by-side with UNITE to identify and build cases against individuals selling drugs in McCreary County,” said Dan Smoot, Law Enforcement Director for UNITE.
“I have the greatest admiration for UNITE and the other outside agencies,” Sheriff Skinner said. “Because of our limited resources, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do to effectively fight drug dealing without their help.”
In the initial wave of the round-up, 11 suspects were arrested and brought to the Sheriff’s Office for booking and eventual transport to the McCreary County Detention Center. Representatives from the McCreary County UNITE Coalition were present to offer assistance to the arrestees.
All of the suspects were being held on at least a $10,000 cash bond.
Luthor “Doc” Moore, one of the individuals arrested Monday, posted bond Tuesday morning, but was back behind bars that afternoon as he was arrested at his home for the second time in two days on charges of promoting contraband.
Moore was lodged in the McCreary County Detention Center under a $25,000 cash bond.
The remaining eight suspects are still being sought by the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department, though several are believed to have fled the county.
“They may think they can run, but they can’t hide,” said Sheriff Skinner. “If and when they return to McCreary County, we will be waiting for them.”
Several of the suspects indicted Monday were also targeted in June’s roundup by the Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force. Glenna Garner, Orville Daughtery and Luther Moore were all arrested in June on trafficking charges during the round-up. Two other individuals sought were also arrested as part of the same operation.
Garner and Daughtery are currently serving a two and seven year sentence respectively and were served their indictments while in jail. Moore is still awaiting trial for his earlier charges.
UNITE’s Deputy Law Enforcement Director Paul Hayes said once law enforcement makes the arrests, it is up to the courts to keep them off the streets.
“Our job is to conduct good investigations, collect evidence and present it to the courts,” he said. “The final disposition is left up to the community and the court.”
Hayes said Drug Courts have been proving effective in getting many suspects who have been arrested out of the drug trade.
“Drug Court is a good option,” He said. “Often, it is the best solution and it is effective.”
“Often people who are selling drugs are doing it to support their own habit. It is likely they will not quit until they are arrested and charged.”
“The people arrested today may think it is the worst day of their life. But, it might be the turning point in their life that gets them the help they need.”
Hayes said the local volunteers working for UNITE have made a difference.
“McCreary County has a good coalition,” He said. “The people are really concerned with what is going on and they have some good programs in place. I believe it is headed in the right direction.
As of Wednesday the suspects arrested were:
Orville Lee Daughtery, 32, on one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. (Daughtery was served in Henderson County where he is being held on other drug related charges.)
Roger Grundy, Sr., 54, on one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Roger “Roo” Grundy Jr., 24, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count of second degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Luther “Doc” Moore, 72, two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and three counts of second degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Wendell Dale “Red” Strunk, 42, on three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Bryan Warman, 37, on one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Geneva Waters, 36, on one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Tonya Daughtery, 39, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Tammy Ridner, 34, on three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
George “Tweety” Waters, 54, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Glenna Garner West, 36, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Eric Scott Miller, two counts of trafficking in marijuana, one count of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
The remaining seven indicted individuals are:
Jason Cassada, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Timothy D. Griffis, Jr., first degree robbery, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, one count of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, cultivating marijuana over 5 plants, criminal mischief first degree.
Timothy D. Griffis, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, one count of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, cultivating marijuana over 5 plants, criminal mischief first degree.
Ashley Perkins, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, three counts of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Anna Michelle Bell/Sexton, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
James Eugene Wilson, one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Herbert Warman, four counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
The McCreary County Sheriffs Office is asking if anyone has information regarding the location of any of the above suspects to please call the Sheriff’s Office at 376-2322, McCreary County 911 Dispatch or Operation UNITE at 606-877-1012. Anonymous tips can be called into the McCreary County Sheriff’s Drug Tip line at 376-UTIP.
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