Four arrested in connection with Canadatown meth labs

Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies arrested four people in connection with three methamphetamine labs found at a Canadatown home during two separate incidents that occurred over a 48-hour period this weekend.

"Making two arrests related to meth … at the same residence, that tells you something. If anybody has information as to who else is involved in manufacturing meth in this area, please contact Sergeant Kirk Mays or Detective Tim Baker," Sheriff Colan Harrell said in a release.

follow up on a tip related to stolen property, Harrell said in a release.

When he arrived at the residence, Mays found a car belonging to the woman he was attempting to locate for questioning in connection with a Clifford Canada Road burglary, but Mays was told she was no longer there.

Deputies received permission to search the home for the person of interest from the burglary to verify that she had left.

In a back room police found an open window and several needles and baggies containing a white powdery substance on a bed, according to the release.

Police also found several meth precursors, which are items commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine.

During the investigation, deputies learned that Thomas Wayne Hersey, 41, had jumped out of an open window and fled into the woods, the release noted.

Deputies had been looking for Hersey since July 26, when Hersey allegedly fled from police at his River Road residence where meth labs were found.

Deputies soon asked for assistance from Williamsburg Police K-9 Officers Brandon Prewitt and Elijah Hunter and their K-9 partners.

Meanwhile, two people found inside the home, Sherry Bray, 40, and Charles S. Cornelius, 44, were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were also charged with receiving stolen property after some items found in the home were determined to have come from the Clifford Canada Road burglary Mays was initially investigating.

During the investigation, it was admitted that meth had been made at the residence. While searching outside the residence, one deputy located a garbage bag containing numerous items used in the manufacturing of meth, according to the release.

Hersey located

A person in the area soon provided deputies with a location where Hersey had very recently been spotted, according to a release.

Williamsburg K-9’s went to that area and quickly started tracking through the woods.

About 300 yards from the home, deputies caught up with Hersey.

"When police fixed their flashlights on him, he was holding a knife. After commands to drop the weapon, he did so and was taken into custody without incident," Harrell said in the release.

When police were attempting to identify Hersey, he allegedly lied and told authorities that his name was James Canada, according to an arrest citation.

Hersey was charged with a number of offenses in connection with the two incidents, including: manufacturing methamphetamine (first and second offenses), second-degree fleeing or evading police, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, violating probation (for a felony offense), first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, giving an officer a false name or address and failure to appear.

County Detention Center. Assisting in the investigation were deputies Jonas Saunders, David Rowe, James Fox and Williamsburg K9 officers Brandon Prewitt and Elijah Hunter.

Officials said the prior incident with Hersey began on July 26 when Deputy Derek Eubanks and Williamsburg Police Sgt. Brandon White went to a location on River Road where Hersey was believed to be living to serve a warrant on an unconnected case.

When authorities approached the camper in which Hersey was reported to be living, he fled into the woods. Visible at the location were numerous items associated with the manufacture of meth and one-step meth labs.

Also located at the scene was a loaded .22 caliber handgun, which Hersey was not permitted to have due to his criminal history, according to a release.

Mays arrested Hersey in April 2014 on a warrant relating to a wreck two days earlier in which a meth lab was located in its trunk. The wreck occurred on Hwy 204 near Gibson Lane. Witnesses stated two subjects fled the scene, and safety precautions due to the meth contaminants had the highway closed for over two hours.

On Friday, Harrell thanked those who responded to the department’s request for information leading to Hersey’s apprehension.

"It ended up being old-fashioned police work, following up on a burglary lead, that led to his arrest. On behalf of this department, I want to thank everybody who provided us with information of his potential whereabouts. We received and acted on a lot of information from the public," Harrell said. "And not just in this case. Several recent drug-related arrests have started with tips. We really appreciate the support."

Latest incident

About 2 p.m. Sunday, firefighters and deputies were dispatched to the same Sanders Creek Road residence where Friday’s arrest took place after a caller reported that there might have been an explosion at the residence.

When Woodbine volunteer firefighters arrived, there was no sign of an explosion and a gate blocked firefighters access that a woman inside the home would not open for firefighters.

A person at the scene told deputies that the woman was unlawfully in the home.

Mays and Saunders knocked on all doors and identified themselves as law enforcement but received no response.

"To ensure the safety of the property and the health of the person reportedly inside, they entered the residence and walked through the home to determine if anybody was inside," according to a sheriff’s department release.

Mays walked through the bedroom where the drug paraphernalia and meth precursors had been found. In the adjoining bathroom, he noticed a person underneath a pile of clothes.

Anne Marie Nash, 38, of Corbin, who is also known as Annie Paul, was taken outside for questioning and denied that meth was being "cooked" at the home, but there was a strong chemical odor associated with meth present, according to the release.
Police then contacted the homeowner, Cornelius, who was still in jail and told authorities Nash was not authorized to be in his home, according to a release.

Cornelius refused to give deputies permission to search the home for any illegal items that may have been brought in since his arrest.

Deputies then obtained a search warrant for the property and found two active meth labs. One lab and an HCL generator were found in a backpack, which was located in the bedroom. Another meth lab was found in another backpack outside the home under a piece of metal, according to the release.

Mays, Sanders and Fox searched and secured the area. The meth labs were collected and destroyed by members of the Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations Unit.

About 7:45 p.m., Mays charged Nash with second-degree burglary and manufacture of methamphetamine, and lodged her in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Tips for the sheriff’s department can be left during regular office hours by calling 549-6006, and after hours by calling E911 at 549-6017.