Anonymous tip leads to four arrests

Multiple people fled from a home on Davenport Lane recently when Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies showed up there to investigate an anonymous tip about a person there wanted for arrest.

On May 3 about 7 p.m., Deputy Jonas Saunders responded to the 80 Davenport Lane home to investigate the tip and multiple people fled the home.

After a short foot pursuit, Saunders located Daniel Lee Jones, 30, inside a neighboring property’s barn where he appeared to be trying to conceal evidence, according to a sheriff’s department release.

Jones was allegedly trying to conceal a clear baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the dirt of the barn, Saunders wrote on the arrest citation.

Deputies charged Jones with tampering with physical evidence, possession of marijuana, second-degree fleeing or evading police and third-degree burglary.

Police located Loren Dean Johnson, 58, in a nearby wooded area, according to the release.

When Johnson was searched at the Whitley County Detention Center, a deputy jailer located a plastic baggie containing a substance believed “ice” methamphetamine in Johnson’s knee brace, the release stated.
Ice is a very pure and potent form of methamphetamine.

Johnson was charged with second-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, alcohol intoxication and first-degree promoting contraband.

Inside the home, police arrested Melvin T. Hill, 28, and Heather Nicole Bowling, 28, on arrest warrants.
Jones and Johnson both pleaded not guilty during their arraignments Thursday afternoon in Whitley District Court.

During court hearings Monday morning, both agreed to waive their cases to the Whitley County Grand Jury.
Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt agreed to amend Johnson’s bond to a $25,000 surety or signature bond to be signed by his mother.

She declined to lower Jones $10,000 cash bond noting that he was classified as a “high risk” and was also being held on charges in circuit court.

Deputy Joe Prewitt and Kentucky State Police Trooper Duane Foley assisted at the scene.