Five people arrested in Williamsburg drug busts

The Williamsburg Police Department is investigating two separate narcotic cases that involved the arrest of four adults and one juvenile over a 25-hour time period.

Both cases involved traffic stops by Williamsburg police and assistance from the department’s drug detection dog.

"Neither of the two drugs busts would have been possible without the hard work, and dedication of Williamsburg Police Department K-9 Officer Brandon Prewitt and K-9 ‘Rico,’" said Williamsburg Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson, who is investigating both cases.

"Both Prewitt and ‘Rico’ have settled in, and accepted their role in the K-9 program. They will continue to work diligently to help eradicate the drug problem in Whitley County."

The first bust came about 11 a.m. Wednesday after Jackson initiated a traffic stop off US25W in the IGA parking lot after 1993 blue Chevy allegedly failed to come to a complete stop at Cumberland Avenue and South Second Street, according to court records.

Jackson charged the driver, Ann M. Nash, 32, of Williamsburg, with disregarding a stop sign, failure to wear a seatbelt, no insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while under the influence, and first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

He charged her husband Ralph Nash, 30, also of Williamsburg, with public intoxication.

Police discovered a controlled substance inside a small container in the vehicle that appeared to be a clear liquid gel substance.

"The female stated that it was the narcotic Fentanyl, which is a schedule I narcotic used on Thera-Gesic patches for pain control," Jackson said.

She told police that she had squeezed the gel out of the patch to either take orally, or by intravenous use, police said.
"This is a very dangerous and potentially deadly method of drug abuse here in Whitley County," Jackson said.

Several syringes and needles were also recovered from the offender, according to her arrest citation.

Ann Nash allegedly told police that she had taken four or five Lorcet pills earlier in the day, according to her arrest citations.
Prewitt and K-9 partner "Rico" assisted Jackson at the scene.

Officers were drawn to the vehicle after Rico alerted on the driver side door indicating the possible presence of drugs, Jackson said.

She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment Thursday afternoon before District Judge Jason Price, who set a $7,500 fully secured bond.

Price appointed the public advocate’s office to represent her, and scheduled a June 22 preliminary hearing in the case.

Williamsburg police made a separate bust about 11:30 a.m. Thursday when Jackson and Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird stopped a vehicle pulling out of the Hometown BP parking lot after getting a complaint about a man acting suspicious and possibly being under the influence, Jackson said in a press release.

"Upon approaching the vehicle all three occupants were extremely nervous, and two of the occupants attempted to conceal some type of substance," Jackson said.

After police had the subjects exit the vehicle, officers noticed a small vile of substance and a pipe with a green leafy substance laying in the front seat in "plain view," Jackson wrote on the release.

Prewitt and Rico responded to the scene and after a search of the exterior of the vehicle they discovered what is believed to be a small amount of marijuana along with a substantial amount of a powdery substance police believe to be Ecstasy, which is a well-known date rape drug, Jackson said.

Police seized $1,226 cash that was hidden in various compartments inside the vehicle along with several packages of Ecstasy that were wrapped in pieces of paper and appeared to be packaged for resale, Jackson said.

All three subjects stated to officers that they had been to a "rave club" the previous night. Several items of drug paraphernalia were also recovered, Jackson said.

"We think that they were just passing through. They stopped at Hometown BP to rest. One of them stayed awake and was acting suspiciously," he said.

Police charged the juvenile driver with possession of marijuana, first-degree trafficking a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while under the influence.

He was detained and lodged in the juvenile detention center in Breathitt County.

Police arrested passengers Maury Galaher, 18 of Knoxville, Tenn., and Matt Schweitzer 18 of Neenah, Wisconsin, and charged them with possession of marijuana, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, according to the press release.

Both adults were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Jackson is continuing both investigations and plans to present both cases to the Whitley County Grand Jury.