WCSD Press Release (Apr 17, 2018) - The Whitley County Sheriff's Department is reporting that on April 15, 2018, Deputy Jonas Saunders was patrolling in the area of Cumberland Falls Highway and Fifth Street in Corbin when he attempted to make contact with a male believed to have an active warrant for his arrest.
When Dep. Saunders pulled up to the car in a gas station parking lot, the driver reversed and fled the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Dep. Saunders pursued the vehicle along Fifth Street and observed a bag be thrown out of the passenger side window.
The pursuit ended when the vehicle wrecked near the entrance to the Tattersall community. When Dep. Saunders exited his cruiser, he observed an item be thrown from the driver’s side window, which was identified as a 9 millimeter pistol.
Taken into custody was:
The driver, Brandon E. Cole, 29, of Williamsburg.
The passenger, William M. Mitchell, 27, of Corbin.
When the discarded bag was located, it contained a large amount of a crystal substance believed to be “ice” methamphetamine. The quantity was so large that Dep. Saunders could not weigh it using the scales carried in his cruiser. The bag was eventually weighed and reported to be over one pound, which is estimated to have a street value of over $70,000.
Located with the large bag was a bank-style bag containing over $7,000. Located in the vehicle’s center console were smaller bags containing what’s believed to be meth and needles.
Whitley County EMS responded to evaluate Cole and Mitchell. Dep. Saunders was assisted by Dep. Mike Lawson, Court Security Officer Donnie Witt and several Corbin Police Department officers.
Cole was charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and reckless driving.
Mitchell was charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia third-degree possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence
Both were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center. Dep. Saunders is continuing the investigation, and the cases will be presented to a Whitley County Grand Jury.
