Gray man found with meth, cocaine, pills, and stolen merchandise

A Gray man was arrested Wednesday at the Corbin Walmart after Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies found methamphetamine, cocaine, assorted drug paraphernalia, and almost $250 worth of stolen items on his person.

Joseph Ray Middleton, 40, is facing charges of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance – cocaine, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication – controlled substances, and theft by unlawful taking of the value under $500.

Deputies were initially called to the store at about 12:50 p.m. in response to a complaint of a suspicious female.

The female, later identified as Emily K. Wagers, 27, of Green Road in Knox County, initially told deputies that she had been left at the store by her sister, and was caring for a child that wasn’t hers.

“Through investigation deputies determined that this was a false report,” said Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer adding that deputies determined that Wagers was under the influence of controlled substances.

Through the course of the investigation, deputies determined that Wagers and Middleton had been in the store together.

After searching the store for Middleton, deputies located him as he was attempting to leave the store.

Upon searching the Middleton, deputies found baggies containing methamphetamine and cocaine, along with Suboxone, and Valium.

“In addition, this subject had a green pipe with burnt end on it that the male subject stated he uses to smoke meth,” Acciardo stated adding that the deputies found the merchandise, valued at $247, hidden in his jacket, pants, and inside his waist band.

Wagers was also arrested on charges of falsely reporting an incident and public intoxication – controlled substances.

Middleton and Wagers were each lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Facility.