4 more arrests in drug roundup

Local News

November 3, 2009

11 of 19 indicted in countywide sting have been processed

Record Staff Report The McCreary County Record Tue Nov 03, 2009, 12:31 PM EST

WHITLEY CITY — Eleven of 19 people wanted in the latest drug roundup in McCreary County have now been arrested.

In addition to seven individuals reported in last week’s edition, four people were served indictment warrants last week by law enforcement officials from the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office and Operation UNITE.

Those charged were:

• Tonya Daughtery, 39, of Woodpecker Lane, Pine Knot, one count first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Tammy Ridner, 34, of Lloyd Martin Road, Pine Knot, three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• George “Tweety” Waters, 54, of Peel Dogwood Road, Whitley City, one count first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Glenna Garner West, 36, of Sargent Road, Pine Knot, one count first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

A total of 19 were targeted after indictments were returned on last Monday afternoon.

McCreary County Sheriff Gus Skinner said his deputies will continue searching for the remaining suspects, several of whom are believed to have fled the county.

The indictments followed a six-month undercover investigation by UNITE and the sheriff’s office into illegal drug trafficking mainly involving OxyContin, Hydrocodone, Suboxone and marijuana.

“I have the greatest admiration for UNITE and the other outside agencies,” Skinner said. “Because of our limited resources, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do to effectively fight drug dealing without their help.”

The Kentucky State Police and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement assisted with the roundup.

In other news related to the war on drugs, state and federal justice officials announced on Thursday the largest drug roundup in Kentucky’s history.

‘Operation Flamingo Road' is the culmination of a three-year effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies that began with a KSP/FBI investigation focusing on individuals obtaining prescription drugs in Florida then returning to Kentucky to distribute illegally.

The sting resulted in 518 arrest warrants issued in 33 counties, 330 of which had been served as of press time, according to KSP Public Affairs Lt. David Jude.

While three of those individuals hail from McCreary County, Lt. Jude could not release their names as they have yet to be arrested.

“We have heard the voices of the citizens of Kentucky to ‘do something’ about this dangerous drug problem,” said KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer. “Your calls, valuable tips and input have not fallen on deaf ears.”

Brewer thanked the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for funding ‘Operation Flamingo Road'.

“This monumental operation could not have been possible without the funding received from ONDCP,” remarked Brewer. “Specifically, Frank Napier, the Director for Appalachia HIDTA, played a pivotal role by petitioning ONDCP to fund this venture.”

The Kentucky Medical Examiners Office reported that the state led the nation in use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in 2008. Preliminary numbers from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics confirmed that 877 deaths in the Commonwealth were attributed to prescription drug overdoses last year.

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