On Friday evening, Casey County Deputy Austin Harris was stationed in a parking area along East KY70, observing traffic. He noticed a white Nissan Altima pass by, which nearly came to a sudden stop and then accelerated. Given that there were no other vehicles or obstacles, this behavior appeared unusual. Deputy Harris followed the vehicle and observed it traveling in the center of the highway during a curve. Consequently, he initiated a traffic stop.

The driver, Jessica Phelps, aged 43 from Science Hill, explained that she was taking her passenger, Ronnie Godbey, to the jail to turn him in for a warrant. When Deputy Harris questioned Phelps about why she was driving in the middle of the road, she admitted that she hadn’t been paying attention and was nervous because she had just passed him. During their conversation, Deputy Harris noticed that Phelps spoke rapidly, exhibited signs of nervousness, and had extremely dilated pupils.

Suspecting impairment, Deputy Harris asked Phelps if she had taken anything. She disclosed that she had consumed 1.5 adapex pills and a Red Bull, which made her feel funny, & slightly dizzy. Field sobriety tests confirmed impairment, leading to Phelps’s arrest. She was transported to the hospital, where she refused a blood test, and then taken to Casey County Jail. She is charged with Reckless Driving, DUI (second offense), and License to be in Possession.

Kentucky State Trooper Jake Smith and Deputy Tyler Luttrell assisted at the scene.