Police seize more than 280 grams of methamphetamine

By Abigail Whitehouse
Contributing Writer

STANFORD – A three-and-a-half month long narcotics investigation by the Stanford Police Department’s Special Operations Division – referred to as “Operation Street Sweeper” – resulted in 20 drug-related arrests and the seizure of more than 280 grams of methamphetamine, stolen firearms and counterfeit money.

Police executed a total of nine search warrants during the course of the investigation, resulting in the seizure of various illegal narcotics including marijuana and heroin, totaling over an estimated $24,000 in street value, as well as drug paraphernalia.

The investigation was a culmination of efforts, Stanford Police Chief Zach Middleton said, and while combatting the drug problems in the area has remained a major goal for the agency over the last few years, the addition of a designated Narcotics Investigator this year has catapulted those efforts forward.

“This has allowed us to really be able to focus on those areas,” Middleton said. “It’s hard to work up a good narcotics investigation while you are working wrecks, domestics, and other similar police calls. Having an officer who has the time to work on those specific enforcement areas helps the entire department get more accomplished.”

Operation Street Sweeper is just a small portion of the work being done by the Stanford Police Department, Middleton said, and a new operation – to run through October through the beginning of next year – is already in the works.

“This department is working hard for the city and I’m proud of what our officers do every day,” he said.

Operation Street Sweeper resulted in the following arrests:

MAY
• The use of a confidential informant led to the May 6 citation of Vivian B. Griffin, 60, of Hwy. 698 in Stanford. The informant used $120 during a controlled buy to purchase Percocets from Griffin, according to the arrest citation. During the execution of a search warrant, $162 of currency was located. Griffin was charged with third-degree trafficking in controlled substance.

• Nicholas S. Owens, 27, of Stanford, was allegedly seen near the Lincoln County Public Library on Lancaster Street, kneeling down behind a wall. When an officer made contact with Owens, the officer smelled a “strong odor of marijuana,” according to the citation. Owens handed the officer a bag of “green leafy substance” he identified as marijuana, which was retrieved from Owens’ sock. Owens also had two packs of rolling papers, the citation stated. Owens was cited May 15 and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

• Clinton Dean Smith, 32, of Kings Mountain, was arrested May 27 and charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance during a traffic stop. Smith allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way and nearly caused a collision, according to arrest records. After consenting to a search of the vehicle, Smith stated there was a bag in the back seat with syringes in it that were used for the consumption of methamphetamine. The bag also contained a small, metal container with a “crystal like substance” which Smith stated was methamphetamine.

• A narcotics investigation set up by text message led to the arrest of three people on May 28. Gregory R. Seney, 40, Kara L. Howard, 30, and John S. Quinn, 35, all of Lancaster, were arrested by Stanford Police after a controlled purchase of 1.5 grams of methamphetamine was executed. Police observed the buy in the parking lot of R&R Wilderness and all three suspects allegedly contributed to the sale of methamphetamine, according to the citation.
Seney told police he provided the vehicle for $30 and allowed Quinn to drive to Harrodsburg to pick up Howard and deliver the methamphetamine. Quinn stated “I’m just the middle man,” according to arrest records. While being interviewed, Howard corrected police when an officer stated approximately eight grams of methamphetamine were found in an external hard drive. Howard told the officer it was actually “about seven grams” of methaphetamine in the hard drive, according to the citation. All three individuals were arrested and charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine were seized during the arrest.

JUNE
• A gallon of milk and some baseball cards landed two people in jail on June 3 after police executed a search warrant and discovered the items were used to purchase methamphetamine. Heather Demaree, 34, of Harrodsburg, and Andrew M. Pass, 30, of Danville, were both arrested on charges of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance after police responded to investigate possible stolen merchandise at the Dollar General and conducted an interview with a suspect, during which they allegedly found 1.4 grams of “clear crystal substance.” The substance was identified by the subject as methamphetamine. Information provided during the interview led police officers to Room 17 of the Sunset Motel on Danville Avenue, where a search warrant was executed. During the search, approximately 1.6 grams of methaphmetamine was found, along with a white powder substance, numerous baggies and digital scales, according to the arrest citation. Police also located $332 in cash, $160 of which was in $20 bills.
Approximately 2.8 grams total were seized during the arrest. Pass was also charged with giving false identifying information after he “intentionally gave misleading information because he was a wanted person.” Pass gave officers a false name and birthday while being interviewed.

• A man was cited June 7 on drug-related charges after a tip from an off-duty police officer led Stanford police to the location of the wanted man. Police stopped a blue Dodge pickup truck on Goshen Cutoff Road at about 1:28 p.m. and identified the driver as William D. Strevels, 33, of Hustonville. When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, Strevels allegedly stated there was a pipe in between the seat and console and indicated it was used for smoking methamphetamine. The pipe was seized and contained clear, crystal substance that had not been consumed. Strevels identified the substance as methamphetamine. He was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

• The alleged attempt to bribe a police officer after being found in possession of crystal methamphetamine resulted in jail time for one man on June 10. Nicholas D. Naylor, 29, of Danville, was found in possession of approximately three grams of methamphetamine after the Stanford Special Operations Division executed an indictment warrant. While sitting in the officer’s patrol vehicle at the Lincoln County Regional Jail, Naylor asked, “How much money would you take to forget about that meth?,” according to the arrest citation. The officer stated he would not accept money or forget the methamphetamine but asked Naylor how much something like that would cost to forget. Naylor stated “I could slip you $1,000 no problem.” After the officer again said he would not take the money, Naylor said, “You’d be surprised how many would, and it would be our secret, no one will ever know. You seem pretty cool.” Naylor was arrested on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance and bribery of a public servant.

• A warrant for theft by unlawful taking ended with an additional drug-related charge for one man on June 24. Jason Carman, 41, of Stanford, was found in possession of methamphetamine after being arrested and searched by police. Arrest records stated a small aluminum foil packet in Carman’s left front pocket contained a clear crystal substance that Carman identified as methamphetamine. Carman was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

• A man found sleeping in the back of a black Chevrolet Tahoe inside a car wash on Lily Drive was cited by the Stanford Special Operations Division on June 25 for possession of marijuana. Robert W. Sparks, 41, of Hustonville, was seen by police as he stepped out of his vehicle to smoke, according to the arrest citation. In plain view, officers observed a clear baggie with a sizable amount of a green leafy substance, which Sparks said was marijuana. Police seized approximately .39 ounces of marijuana.

JULY
• Police seized approximately 164 grams of methamphetamine on July 5 after being called to 607 Miller Street in Stanford to resolve an eviction dispute. Jennifer Brown, 36, of Stanford, was arrested after allegedly taking all of the methamphetamine in the house on Miller Street after being evicted by the owners and then traveled to Whitley Avenue. Brown claimed she grabbed all of the drugs from the house that she knew about “so that the owners would not find it because it belonged to their son,” according to the citation. She was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance after allegedly telling police she traveled to Louisville to pick up methamphetamine and spent approximately $4,000.

• Police were dispatched to Church Street behind the Lincoln County Regional Jail on July 11 where they found Jonathan T. Allen, 32, of Crab Orchard, sitting on the ground. Allen’s speech was slurred and he had pinpoint pupils, according to the citation. The man told the officer he had been sleeping and did not know where he was. The officer searched Allen and found a syringe, along with a small, silver pill container. Inside the container were two Suboxones, a clear, crystal rock substance and a green, leafy substance. Allen told the officer the crystal substance was methamphetamine and the leafy substance was marijuana. He was arrested and charged with public intoxication, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Stanford Police officers approached a residence located at 464 Goshen Cutoff Road at about 2 a.m. on July 16 for what they called a “Knock and Talk” when they observed a group of people smoking marijuana through an open window. Arrest records stated that a resident allowed officers inside and while in the home, they observed Jesse A. Gregory, 36, of Stanford, run into a closet and then come back out. Inside the closet, officers located methamphetamine and $199, with $120 of the currency in $20 bills. “Gregory stated the money came from selling methamphetamine,” the citation states. On a table outside of the closet, more clear, crystal substance was found, along with an empty baggie and digital scales. Gregory was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

AUGUST
• An arrest warrant was served at about 10 p.m. Aug. 1 at 197 Logan Avenue – a residence that had been under surveillance for known fugitives and drug activity. Officers served the arrest warrant on Billy R. Durham, 60, of Stanford, who initially gave verbal consent for officers to search his room, according to the citation. During the search, officers found a trimmed straw with a powder substance on it, which Durham allegedly stated was used to snort Percocet. Police also observed three white pills with the marking “DAN” on them but as they began to question Durham, he told officers to stop and get a search warrant. Police obtained a search warrant before locating a burned “marijuana cigarette,” two straws with white residue and three pills with “DAN 5313” inscribed on them. The pills were identified as Carisoprodol, a schedule four muscle relaxer, according to arrest records. Durham was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, as well as third-degree posession of a controlled substance.

• A stolen Hi-Point 9 mm pistol resulted in the arrest of two people in August. During the course of a drug-trafficking investigation, Police made contact with Patrick G. Garr, 44, of Stanford, in the Lincoln County Public Library parking lot. According to the arrest citation, police noticed Garr had an abnormal point in his stomach area protruding from his shirt and after consenting to a search, officers located a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol, which was determined to be stolen. The firearm was stolen from Skyline Drive and reported to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Jan. 2018. Garr allegedly told police he purchased the firearm on Aug. 2 for approximately $120. Police also found a purple bag with a glass pipe that had burn marks on it.
Garr was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers traveled to 4308 Ky. Hwy. 1247 three days later to interview Freddie W. Denson, 48, of Stanford about the firearm. Denson allegedly told police he purchased the firearm a month prior to the interview for $80.
Denson was searched by police and a sock full of marijuana, as well as a glass pipe with residue was found. He was charged with receiving stolen property, selling a firearm to a person prohibited from possessing one, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

• Methamphetamine and heroin were found when police stopped to check on occupants of a vehicle in the Walmart parking lot at about 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 12. Police observed Dakota S. Perkins, 27, of Waynesburg, working on the vehicle when police noticed an “odd shape” protruding from his groin area. Perkins allegedly told the officer it was a syringe and was asked if he had drugs on him.
“Perkins produced a small blue container that had two small baggies in it,” according to the citation. He told the officer one baggie was methamphetamine and the second baggie was heroin.
Perkins was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

• Police were dispatched to the Dollar General store at about 9:10 p.m. on Aug. 19 to check on the occupant of a vehicle that the store management said had not left the parking lot for over an hour. Upon making contact with the vehicle, an officer observed Bobby J. Statom, 45, of Danville, along with a “one hitter” used for the consumption of marijuana, in the front seat.
Statom told the officer he “took a resin hit” off of the paraphernalia prior to police’s arrival.
As police searched the vehicle, they allegedly located three different straws used for snorting pills and a pill crusher that had two Percocet located in the top of it. Statom told the officer he did not have a prescription for the Percocet but used them for pain.
He also told police he “snorts a Percocet every morning before work to ‘get through the day,'” according to the citation.

Stanford’s Police Chief said this week he was impressed with the results of the narcotics operation and the arrests made throughout the investigation.

“Everyone in the department was involved in these cases at some point or another,” Middleton said. “Other agencies assisted us some as well, and that’s what it takes, everyone working together to make a difference.”