WILLIAMSBURG, KY - The Whitley County Sheriff Department is reporting that early Wednesday morning April 20, 2022 Sheriff Danny Moses, Chief Deputy Tim Baker, Sergeant Jonas Saunders, and Deputy Brentley Patrick assisted the Williamsburg Police Department in a drug roundup operation.
Although summer hasn't officially arrived, Wednesday morning it arrived early for drug dealers in Williamsburg and Whitley County.
It became scorching hot in multiple areas of the city and county as WPD officers, Deputies, and Constables rounded up numerous individuals involved in the illegal distribution and possession of controlled substances.
One by one, "ICE" traffickers melted down as officers showed up at their residences armed with arrest warrants. WPD officers turned the heat up, putting several drug traffickers abruptly out of business.
This operation was part of multiple months-long investigations conducted by Officers at the Williamsburg Police Department. The Sheriff's Department appreciates the hard work that the Williamsburg Police Department invests in their community and the entire county as a whole.
The inter-agency cooperation assists in our ultimate goal of a cleaner and safer Whitley County, one we can all be proud to call home.
WPD hopes that a clear message has been sent, that drug traffickers will continue to be sought, apprehended, arrested, and prosecuted.
A series of investigations conducted and led by Officer Chad Foley and Officer Dorman Patrick Jr., over an approximately three-month period, resulted in the arrest of nine individuals who are accused of distributing Methamphetamine and Oxycodone.
Additional suspects were also arrested on other charges and contraband was found as officers made their way to various locations where dealers were believed to be.
The following individuals were charged/arrested:
1. Andy Lewis of West Main Street-Smith Lane:
- TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
2. JC Tyler White of Savoy Clear Creek Road:
- TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
3. Ashley Rains of Savoy Clear Creek Road:
- COMPLICITY TO TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
4. Amber Woolum-Powers of Tackett Creek Road:
- TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
5. Dewane Chambers of Keswick Road
- TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
6. Erica Privett of Buck Creek Road:
- One count of COMPLICITY TO TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
- One count of TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
7. Karen Lawson of Emby Moses Road:
- TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-OXYCODONE
8. Doc Lawson of Emby Moses Road:
- COMPLICITY TO TRAFFICKING IN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-OXYCODONE (Issued a summons and cited to court)
9. Erica Smith of Buck Creek Road:
- One count of POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-HEROIN
- POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 2ND and 3RD DEGREE-DRUG UNSPECIFIED
10. Tammy Carter of North 6th Street:
- POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE-METH
11. William Mouser of Ken Hyden Road
12. Tiffany Powers-Mouser of Ken Hyden Road:
- Served with a failure to appear warrant for violation of an EPO while officers were attempting to locate a drug trafficking suspect
13. Rodney Vanover of Cemetery Road - Served with a failure to appear warrant on the underlying charge of:
- THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING while officers were attempting to locate a drug trafficking suspect
14. Judy Harness of Red Witt Road - Served with:
- A failure to appear warrant while officers were attempting to locate a suspected drug trafficker in the Emlyn community
WPD officers assisting with the investigations and with the operation included: K-9 Officer Johnny Fulton, Officer Bryson Lawson, Officer Eddie Cain, Chief Wayne Bird, Deputy Chief Jason Caddell, K-9 Lt. Jim Pool, Lt-Detective Bobby Freeman, Lt. Brandon White, K-9 Sgt. Elijah Hunter, Officer Austyn Weddle, and Officer Brandon Prewitt.
County law enforcement officers assisting in the operation included: Deputy Brentley Patrick, Chief Deputy Tim Baker, Sgt. Jonas Saunders, Sheriff Danny Moses, Constable Jim Thornton, Constable Ron “Bubba” Bowling, Constable Lonnie Foley, and Constable Andy Moses.
WC Commonwealth Attorney Ronnie Bowling also assisted with the investigations.
