Bell County home searched after accident in north Corbin; two men arrested on drug charges

A traffic accident in north Corbin Friday led to the arrest of two men, and the discovery of over 150 assorted pain pills at a Bell County home.

According to Laurel County Sheriff John Root, Detective Brad Mitchell, Sgt. Greg Poynter, Deputy James Sizemore and Deputy Greg Turner, along with officers from the London Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, conducted an investigation into illegal drug trafficking Friday following a non-injury accident on Cherry Avenue at around 4:12 p.m.

Police say a suspect, Jason E. Collins, 22, of Pineville, was at the accident scene and was determined to be under the influence of drugs. Roxicet pills were located in his vehicle. He was arrested and admitted to authorities he had taken pain pills earlier in the day.

Information was developed from the arrest, and authorities were able to arrange a drug sting by convincing another man, 36-year-old Scott Browning, of Fourmile, to meet a cooperating witness at a parking lot on US 25E. When Browning arrived, he was immediately arrested by Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputies and the DEA. He was allegedly in possession of 50 Roxicet pills.

Following Browning’s arrest, his home in Fourmile, located in Bell County, was searched by authorities. One hundred and fifty various pain pills were confiscated, including: hydrocodone, methadone and Xanax. Some Marijuana was also seized.

Browing has been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance first-degree, DUI and driving on a DUI suspended license. Police say it is “estimated that he has illegally supplied as many as 50,000 pills in the past 18 months.

Both Browning and Collins were lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center.