A traffic stop resulted in drug charges for a Liberty couple.

Just before midnight on Friday, Deputy Austin Harris of the Casey County Sheriff’s Office was monitoring traffic on S 127 when he noticed a 2009 Mazda 3 with an unilluminated license plate. Deputy Harris initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Kasey Allen, and the passenger, Gary Mays.

While conversing with Allen, he observed signs of possible impairment, and she appeared very nervous. K9 Nitro alerted to potential narcotics on the passenger side of the car. Allen claimed there was nothing in the vehicle but consented to a search. Both individuals were asked to exit the vehicle.
 

At the rear of the car, Mr. Mays reached into his pockets and pulled out numerous items, placing them on the trunk lid. He stated that everything belonged to him and that the Deputy would find it anyway. Among the items discovered were a cylinder containing a powdered substance inside a baggie, along with a joint. Inside a cigarette package, there was a bag filled with a crystal-like substance. Additionally, a set of scales, $60 in cash, and a pill bottle full of seeds were found. Gary J. Mays, 48, from Liberty, arrested for trafficking methamphetamine (over 2 grams, 1st degree/2nd offense), possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Following a field sobriety test, Ms. Allen admitted that she had taken Subs and snorted meth earlier. She said the subs were prescribed and told the Deputy where they were at. He located the bottle and when looking inside, saw 2 pills and a crystal-like substance. When asked, Allen stated the substance was meth and that it was hers. 31-year-old Kasey M. Allen of Liberty was charged with DUI-substance-2nd Offense, Possession of Methamphetamine, and License Plate not illuminated.

Both were transported to the Casey County Jail.

A Marion County teenager was arrested following a weekend traffic stop.

Shortly after 11:30 PM on Saturday night, Casey County Deputy Austin Harris and Special Deputy Billy Duncan were traveling southbound on KY49 when they observed a 2021 Toyota RAV4 SUV repeatedly crossing the yellow line and then abruptly veering back into the southbound lane.

They initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Fredrick L. Kendrick, age 19 of Gravel Switch, KY. Deputies noticed that Kendrick’s eyes were extremely red. Kendrick admitted to smoking a THC pen a couple of hours prior.

He failed the Field Sobriety Tests and was subsequently placed under arrest. Kendrick was transported to the Casey County Jail, facing charges of DUI-substance and reckless driving.

A Liberty man is facing his third DUI after being stopped for erratic driving. 

Just before 6 PM on Saturday, Casey County Deputy Austin Harris was traveling southbound on KY49 when he pulled over a 2000 Chevy Silverado Pickup that was driving in the middle of the road. 

The driver, Jared M. Allen, 35 of Liberty, emitted a strong smell of alcohol. Allen admitted to consuming approximately 6 Twisted Teas, a Shot of Fireball, and a Lortab within the past 6 hours, as well as snorting methamphetamine within the last 24 hours. 

When asked to perform Field Sobriety Tests, Allen failed. He consented to a search of the vehicle, during which Deputy Harris discovered several empty Twisted Tea bottles and cans. 

Allen was subsequently arrested for his third DUI offense and transported to the Casey County Jail.

A Liberty man is in custody after leading police on a brief pursuit in Nelson County. 

According to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy attempted a traffic stop on Highway 150 just after midnight on Sunday. 

The driver was clocked at 89 mph in a 55-mph zone. 

Despite the deputy’s efforts, 42-year-old Inca Calcine of Liberty, Kentucky, failed to stop and continued westward onto the Bluegrass Parkway. The Kentucky State Police (KSP) assisted by deploying spike strips near the 3-mile marker. 

The pursuit concluded, and Calcine was apprehended. He now faces multiple charges, including fleeing and evading police, wanton endangerment, reckless driving, resisting arrest, driving without registration, and lacking insurance. 

Calcine was lodged at the Nelson County Jail.

There was ice in Lake Cumberland over the weekend.
Jeff Henderson has this chilling report...

Officials are investigating a weekend drowning at Lake Cumberland.
Jeff Henderson is covering the story for 98.7 The Buck...

The Casey County Fiscal Court met in a special called session this morning.
Casey County Judge Executive, Randy Dial...

Hear the full interview with Judge Dial here...

An Adair County teen was arrested following a traffic stop over the weekend.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, Deputy Austin Harris and Special Deputy Billy Duncan from the Casey County Sheriff’s Office were observing traffic on US127 at Green River Outdoors.

They noticed a 2009 Dodge mini-van traveling northbound without headlamps or taillamps. The deputies caught up with the van and stopped it on the connector bridge.

The driver, 18-year-old David J. Freund from Columbia, explained that he wasn’t used to turning the lights on because he rarely drove the van—it belonged to his mother.

Deputy Harris detected signs of possible impairment and asked David about smoking or drinking. David admitted to smoking a THC pen before leaving work. On a scale of 1-10, David rated his impairment as 4 or 5 when he smoked, but by that time, he had come down to a 2 or 3.

After failing field sobriety tests, David was placed under arrest and transported to the Casey County Jail. He faces charges of DUI-substance and failure to illuminate headlamps.

An Adair County man was seriously injured and is now facing DUI charges following a single-vehicle crash over the weekend.

Casey County Deputy Jayson Grider responded to the scene around 1 p.m. on Sunday, 12 miles west of Liberty on KY 206.

Upon arrival, he found a 2005 Jeep Liberty lying on its side. 27-year-old Evan Burlison, from Columbia, was sitting beside the vehicle. Burlison was belligerent, claiming that his life was over and admitting to being drunk and having consumed too much alcohol.

Due to his injuries, field sobriety tests were impossible to perform. Burlison emitted a strong odor of alcohol from his person. A PBT (preliminary breath test) showed a reading of 0.208 for his breath alcohol level.

Burlison was airlifted from the scene for treatment. He was cited for reckless driving, DUI, no insurance, and no registration receipt.

Liberty City Council met in special session Monday.

The only item on the agenda was the appointment of a new council member, Dr. Erica Montgomerty Turner.

Mayor Sam Haddad...

Kentucky State Police Post 11 London responded to a two-vehicle fatal collision that occurred around 5:36 PM on US-27 and Southern Highway in McCreary County.

Through preliminary investigation, Troopers determined a 2005 Ford Explorer operated by 19-year-old Cameron D. Burke of Stearns, KY, and passenger Leroy J, Bremiller 18 years old of Pine Knot, Ky. Was attempting to cross US-27 and failed to yield the right of way and entered into the travel portion of a 2015 Ford Taurus, operated by Martha M. King 71 years old of Jamestown, TN.

Mrs. King was unable to avoid the collision and struck Mr. Burke’s vehicle and the vehicle flipped onto its top. Mr. Burke’s was partially ejected from the vehicle. Due to his injuries Mr. Burke succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by the McCreary County Coroner on scene.

The passenger of the Ford Taurus, Annie L. Hood- Collins of Warren, MI. and Glenda J. Harding of Jamestown, TN was transported by helicopter to the University of Tennessee with non-life threating injuries. The driver of the Ford Taurus Martha King and her 3rd passenger William R. Collins of Warren, MI. were transported by McCreary County EMS to Oneida, Tennessee hospital for non-life threating injuries.

KSP Trooper Matthew Brumley is continuing the investigation. He was assisted at the scene by additional Post 11 personnel, McCreary Co. Sheriff’s Department, McCreary Co. Ambulance Service, McCreary Co. Coroner’s Office, and the Pine Knot Fire Department and Whitley City Fire Department.

Farm Bureau says over half a million acres of Kentucky farmland has been lost in the last five years.
KFB President, Eddie Melton spoke at the Casey County Chamber of Commerce luncheon this week, and says they are working on ways to reverse the trend...
 

More information is available at KYFB DOT COM.

The full interview with Eddie Melton can be heard below...

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck introduced Josh Wesley as the new Chief of the Somerset Police Department.

Jeff Henderson reports...

Pulaski County Sheriff Bobby Jones reports on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at approximately 1:49 PM, Deputy Marcus Harrison and other law enforcement officers responded to a complaint of a person who was acting suspiciously. Before the officers arrived, they were told that a man and woman were
arguing in the middle of the roadway and that the man was armed with a scythe.

When Deputy Harrison arrived, he saw a male subject walking into a tree line and a
female standing in the roadway. Deputy Harrison and Deputy Jared Pierce searched the tree line
but were unable to locate that person.

While investigating the initial complaint, Deputies were led to another residence on
Stewart Road. Through their investigation, they located Cooper David Decker who had an active
warrant against him. Decker was standing by a vehicle that he owned. Deputy Jared Pierce
arrested Decker on the warrant. Deputies also located James Mounce sitting in the same vehicle
and Mounce had active arrest warrants on him. Mounce was arrested by Deputy Logan Crabtree
who had come to assist.

Note: Decker and Mounce were not associated with the initial complaint that brought the
officers to that area.

Deputy Marcus Harrison located a pistol lying on the driver’s seat and a syringe that
contained a clear liquid in it that was on the driver's side of the vehicle. Subsequent investigation revealed that there were three long guns, an additional pistol, digital scales, a used
methamphetamine pipe, syringes, and approximately 51.5 grams (1.8 ounces) of a white crystal-
like substance suspected to be methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Cooper David Decker, age 44, of Cave Hollow Road, Somerset, KY was charged with
Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, 1 st Degree, 1 st Offense – (greater than 2 grams of
Methamphetamine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. An indictment warrant was also
served on him for Receiving Stolen Property more than $1,000 but less than $10,000. Mr.
Decker was then lodged at the Pulaski County Detention Center.

James Mounce, age 47, also of Cave Hollow Road was arrested on four bench warrants
from Pulaski County; one for Contempt of Court and the other three for Failure to Appear. He
was also lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

Sheriff Bobby Jones asks if you have any information about drug activity or any crime to
contact our tip line at 606-679-8477. You can also leave a tip on our webpage at
http://www.pulaskisheriff.com. You can remain anonymous by texting PCSOTIP to 847411, or
by using our mobile app on both Google Play and the App Store.

On Sunday, just past 6pm, Casey County Deputy Austin Harris, accompanied by Special Deputy Billy Duncan, were monitoring traffic at the crossroads of E KY70 and KY 198, and pulled over a 2006 Saturn Ion, notable for its busted rear window, which was covered with plastic.

The driver, 37-year-old Amanda N. Luttrell, of Russell Springs, exhibited clear signs of impairment. After failing field sobriety tests, she confessed to smoking Marijuana and Meth approximately two hours prior.

Following her refusal of a blood test at the hospital, she was escorted to the Casey County Jail. Ms. Luttrell is charged with DUI-controlled substance, having an obstructed view, and driving on suspended operator’s license.

Casey County Board of Education met in regular session last night.
Superintendent, Barry Lee...

Liberty City Council met in regular session Monday.
Mayor, Dr. Sam Haddad...

The entire meeting can be heard below...

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has disclosed that in the early hours of Saturday, Lebanon Dispatch Center was alerted to a shooting at a home located roughly four miles south of Raywick on Frank Lee Road.

Upon their arrival, Deputies discovered that 24-year-old Marion County Deputy Sheriff William Patrick Skaggs had suffered a fatal gunshot wound within his own residence.

Deputy Skaggs was officially declared deceased by the Marion County Coroner’s office and his remains were conveyed to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville.

Kentucky State Police are handling the investigation.

• Liberty City Council meets today at 5pm at City Hall
• Casey County Board of Education meets at 7pm this evening at their Annex on N 127

Both meetings are open to the public.

A Casey County man was injured in a head-on crash in Taylor County.

It happened around 12:30 pm on Thursday, on KY-70 at Acton.

Taylor County Sheriff Dickie Benningfield, who responded to the scene, reported that Ronnie Garrett, 54 of Bradfordsville, was driving a 1998 Chevy truck when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Buel McDonald, an 85-year-old resident of Dunnville.

McDonald was seriously injured and required airlift transportation to UK Hospital in Lexington for emergency care.

Garrett was not injured.

Secretary of State Michael Adams announced that 403,040 registered voters have been removed from the voter rolls since he took office in 2020. In the 10 days voter registration was open in May, Kentucky saw more voters removed from the rolls (5,723) than added (5,496).

Adams, who is to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston on June 9, noted, “While Kentucky is being celebrated nationally for expanding voter access, let’s also take pride that in our Commonwealth we have election integrity.”

Of the 5,723 voters removed, 4,819 were deceased, 451 had moved out of state, 350 were convicted of felonies, 61 were adjudged mentally incompetent, 24 were duplicate registrations, and 18 voluntarily de-registered.

Republican registrants account for 46 percent of the electorate, with 1,616,861 voters. Republican registration increased by 1,410 voters, a .09 percent increase. Democratic registrants make up 44 percent of the electorate, with 1,508,690 voters. Democratic registration decreased by 2,552 voters, a .17 percent decrease. There are 365,227 voters registered as Independent or under other political affiliations, 10 percent of the electorate. “Other” registration went up by 915 voters, a .25 percent increase.

A property dispute led to the arrest of a Casey County man after a tussle with the Sheriff.

Shortly before 4pm Wednesday afternoon, Casey County Sheriff Chad Weddle was dispatched to a residence on Wheeler Woods Road following a call from Negia Stephens, who claimed that her neighbor had encroached on her property with fence posts & metal sheeting.

Upon arrival, Sheriff Weddle observed two yellow steel posts marking the boundary between the two properties.

Sheriff Weddle approached Frederick Hartman at his residence regarding the metal sheets. Mr. Hartman reportedly became verbally aggressive, using profanity and raising his voice. Despite Sheriff Weddle’s attempts to de-escalate the situation by requesting Hartman to remove the metal from Stephens’ property, Hartman’s behavior continued to be confrontational.

The altercation reached a peak when Hartman, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, gestured aggressively towards Sheriff Weddle and refused to comply with instructions to remove his hands from his pockets. This led to Sheriff Weddle detaining Hartman, who resisted arrest, resulting in a physical struggle that ended with Hartman being subdued and handcuffed.

72-year-old Frederick C. Hartman now faces charges of second-degree disorderly conduct, menacing, and resisting arrest.

A Danville, Ky., man, Akili O. Simpson, 23, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 26 years in prison, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl that resulted in death.

At 6 PM on Tuesday, Casey County Deputy Austin Harris, was traveling southbound on US 127, & observed a 2000 GMC pickup truck veering erratically between the yellow and white lines. A license plate check revealed that the registered owner had no driving record. The vehicle turned onto Shugars Hill Road, prompting Deputy Harris to activate his emergency lights. The truck did not halt until it reached the bottom of the hill.

The driver, Angela H. Thomas, a 46 of Liberty, exhibited signs of nervousness and avoided eye contact. At Deputy Harris’s request, she removed her sunglasses, revealing constricted and bloodshot eyes.

When questioned about substance use, Ms. Thomas initially disclosed that she had smoked marijuana two days prior. However, field sobriety tests indicated impairment, and upon further questioning, Ms. Thomas admitted to consuming methamphetamine within the last 24 hours, claiming minimal effect from the substance.

Ms. Thomas was arrested and declined a blood test at the hospital. She faces charges for driving under the influence of a controlled substance, marking her second offense. She was transported to the Casey County Jail.

Just before 10 pm on Monday, deputies from the Casey County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision with potential injuries, ten miles southwest of Liberty on KY 1547.

Upon reaching the scene, they discovered a truck that had been struck and veered off the roadway, as well as an SUV that had sustained front-end damage. A female, identified as Nicole L. Bryant, 47 of Hustonville, was found lying beside the SUV.

Casey County EMS arrived and began treating her injuries. Despite the initial severity of the situation, Nicole was responsive and engaged in conversation with the EMS personnel.

During their assessment of the SUV, deputies uncovered an open tequila bottle on the floorboard, and the vehicle smelled of alcohol.

Nicole told paramedics that she had consumed three or four Margaritas. She was transported to the hospital for further treatment.

Deputies followed to continue their investigation. Nicole admitted her actions and expressed her willingness to take responsibility. She exhibited bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

Nicole said she had been at a restaurant in Danville with friends, where she had consumed three to four Margaritas, stopping on the way to purchase the tequila. Nicole declined a blood test.

After being medically cleared, she was arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) and transported to Casey County Jail for processing.

Campbellsville Fire-Rescue responded to a distress call regarding an individual in the water at Green River Lake (Lone Valley) on Sunday evening at 6 pm. Upon their arrival, firefighters discovered that a man was missing in the water and that his vehicle was submerged as well.

Upon reaching the scene, firefighters commenced interviews with eyewitnesses to establish the approximate location where the individual was last seen. Three public safety divers entered the water and promptly initiated a search for the missing person. During their search, the divers located Harold Mattingly, a 69-year-old from Lebanon, about 110 feet from the ramp in water approximately 15 feet deep. Regrettably, Mattingly was pronounced deceased by the Campbellsville Taylor County Coroner's Office.

Following the recovery of the individual, the public safety divers proceeded with the operation to retrieve the submerged vehicle, successfully returning it to the ramp. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement and the Taylor County Coroner's Office are currently conducting an investigation into the incident.

On Sunday at approximately 5 pm, Casey County Deputy Austin Harris and Special Deputy Billy Duncan responded to the scene roughly 10 miles northwest of Liberty on KY 906, involving a vehicle off the road and a man allegedly threatening homeowners.

The driver, identified as Timothy S. Mullins, 44, from Hustonville, claimed he swerved off the road to avoid a truck that had pulled out in front of him. Mullins appeared anxious, spoke rapidly, and had constricted pupils. He admitted to taking 300mg of Neurontin and unspecified nerve medication.

Following failed sobriety tests, Mullins rated his impairment at a 7 out of 10 when questioned by Deputy Harris. Despite initially stating he was traveling west, Mullins later contradicted himself, saying he was heading east on KY 906.

After refusing a blood test at the hospital, Mullins was arrested and charged with his second DUI involving a controlled substance. He was taken to the Casey County Jail.

A Taylor County man is facing charges after being found with a missing teen under questionable circumstances.

10pm Sunday, Casey Co. Deputy Autin Harris and Special Deputy Billy Duncan were dispatched to a residence 7 miles NW of Liberty on KY 49 for a report of a missing girl, age 15, from Campbellsville.
Upon arrival, they made contact with Jerome L. Coulter who is 44 years old, from Campbellsville.

When asked if the girl was there, Coulter hesitated and then said yes. He yelled for the girl and Deputies saw her raise out of the bed in a disheveled state. Deputies told her to grab her things and step outside.

Coulter claimed he offered her a ride after seeing her walking with friends and brought her home, as she was in a dispute with her mother. No inappropriate conduct was admitted by Coulter, however, deputies detected alcohol on the girl’s breath.

Despite her denial of consumption, her unsteady demeanor led to a call for medical evaluation. The girl’s mother requested a hospital exam, where tests revealed significant alcohol levels. The girl admitted to drinking alcohol provided by the man, a claim corroborated by her written statement.

The deputies then returned to the residence to question Coulter further. Coulter denied giving the girls alcohol. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Casey County Jail for Unlawful Transaction with a Minor-3rd Degree.

Kentucky State Police Post 15 will be conducting periodic traffic safety checkpoints in the Post 15 area, which includes Green, Taylor, Marion, Washington, Russell, Casey, Adair, Metcalfe, Monroe, Clinton, and Cumberland counties. 

These checkpoints will be conducted as part of Post 15’s highway safety efforts.  Troopers will be checking for violations of Kentucky traffic and regulatory laws including, but not limited to, motor vehicle equipment safety, licensing of drivers, motor vehicle registration, child restraints, and operation of motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants.

A complete list of traffic safety checkpoint locations can be found at the following link: http://www.kentuckystatepolice.ky.org/post15checkpoints