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BY ABIGAIL ROBERTS

Correspondent

CRAB ORCHARD – Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies made several drug-trafficking arrests as a result of a narcotics investigation in Crab Orchard.

The investigation began on Feb. 7 at about 8 p.m. when Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office K9 Deputy Brandon McIntosh and Sergeant Michael Mullins conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 150 east near Crab Orchard.

During the stop, deputies identified William Thorton, 40, of Lancaster, who had an active theft-related warrant. As Thorton was being taken into custody deputies located suspected methamphetamine on his person. He was arrested by Mcintosh and lodged in the Rockcastle County Detention Center.

At about 9 p.m., Deputies then began their surveillance on a garage located on Duval Lane near the city limits of Crab Orchard after receiving numerous complaints of drug and criminal activity.

Deputies observed a vehicle leaving the location and conducted a traffic stop, during which K9 Luma was deployed and gave a positive alert to narcotic odor. Paraphernalia associated with heroin use was located.

Not long after that traffic stop, another vehicle left the garage.

Sgt. Mullins, along with Sgt. Eric Dean and Deputy McIntosh, conducted a traffic stop on the blue 2009 Toyota after the driver failed to use a signal and failed to stop at a stop sign.

After declining consent for deputies to search the vehicle, K9 Luma was deployed and alerted to the driver’s side door. William Eric Brown, 41, of 108 N. Star view Drive in Somerset, was removed from the vehicle.

As he was standing next to the cruiser, a bag with a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin fell from between his legs, according to the arrest citation. Brown told deputies he had dropped off approximately five ounces at his previous location.

The passenger, identified as 28-year-old Spencer Silvers, also of 108 N. Star View Drive in Somerset, had a large amount of U.S. currency in her purse, according to the arrest citation. Silvers and Brown were seen going into the garage on Duval Lane that was under surveillance.

Both were arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking in controlled substance (heroin and methamphetamine). Silvers was also wanted for a probation violation warrant. Brown was lodged in the Rockcastle County Detention Center. Silvers was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

At about 2 a.m. on Feb. 8, LCSO executed a search warrant at 16 Duval Lane, the garage that had been under surveillance.

During the search, K9 Gyozo was deployed inside the garage, where he had a positive alert for narcotic odor.

Deputies located approximately 1.2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine that had been placed in a cup of soda.

The owner of the garage, 41-year-old Branden Dee Saylor, told deputies that a man dropped off about 2 to 3 ounces of meth that evening.

“He stated that he was trying to make some money. Above admitted to putting the meth inside the cup,” the arrest citation states.

Clear, empty baggies were present in the garage, according to the citation.

Saylor was arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine); possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence.

Saylor was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

Assisting in the arrest were Chief Deputy Brandon Curlis, Sergeant Eric Dean, Sheriff Shawn Hines and Lincoln County Constable Mike Mullins.