According to Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron, an investigation after receiving a tip of the sale of illegal narcotics from a residence on Pearl Smith Road has resulted in a Monticello man being arrested on drug trafficking and other charges.
On March 16, 2023, at approximately 11:45 pm Deputy James Barnett was surveilling the residence as he observed two vehicles leaving this residence at the same time. As the vehicles passed his location, he observed the first one as having a traffic violation. As Deputy Barnett started following these vehicles on Kentucky Highway 3284 the first vehicle speeded up and appeared to be trying to get away from Deputy Barnett. Deputy Nick Bertram, which was in the same area, observed the first vehicle traveling at a higher rate than the legal speed limit. Deputy Bertram, then conducted a traffic stop on that vehicle to address the violation. Once Deputy Barnett arrived at the traffic stop location, he recognized the driver as having a warrant of arrest. Deputy Barnett then advised the driver he was under arrest for the warrant and was told to exit the vehicle. While doing so Deputy Bertram noticed a cloth bag laying on the floorboard which would have been between the driver’s feet. This cloth bag contained a total of 9 plastic baggies containing a crystal-like substance. Deputy Bertram also located a set of digital scales with what appeared to be the same type of crystal substance on it and a Suboxone pill.
Deputy Barnett charged Christopher Crabtree of Monticello, Ky. for trafficking in a controlled substance-1st degree (greater than or equal to 2 grams of methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance-2nd degree (drug unspecified), possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, and for traffic violations. Crabtree was also arrested on a Wayne County District Court Complaint Warrant of Arrest for theft by unlawful taking or disposition-shoplifting. This warrant was obtained by Walmart after Crabtree entered the store and removed several items without paying for those items. These items were valued at $323.68.
While processing paperwork at the Wayne Sheriff’s Office the crystal-like substance was tested using the Sheriff’s Office Tru-Narc Narcotic Analysis Equipment which tested positive as being methamphetamine with a total weight of 27 grams.
Crabtree was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.
The investigation is continued by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
In other unrelated arrests
Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron reports the following arrests.
Daniel Vaughn of Monticello, Ky. was arrested on a Wayne County Circuit Court Indictment Warrant of Arrest for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Jason Fairchild of Monticello, Ky. was arrested on a Wayne County Circuit Court Indictment Warrant of Arrest for trafficking in a controlled substance-1st degree (greater than or equal to 2 grams of methamphetamine), trafficking in a controlled substance-2nd degree (greater than or equal to 20 drug unspecified), trafficking in a controlled substance-3rd degree (less than 20 drug unspecified) and persistent felony offender-1st degree.
James B. Townsend of Somerset, Ky. was arrested on 2 Pulaski County Circuit Court Warrants of Arrest for Violation of Bond Conditions on the underlying charges of 2 counts of trafficking in a controlled substance-1st degree (greater than 2 grams of methamphetamine) and 2 counts of persistent felony offender.
Vaughn was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center. Fairchild and Townsend remained in the Detention Center.
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