Knox Sheriff’s deputies recover two pounds of suspected meth after Gray traffic stop

A routine traffic stop in Gray early Wednesday morning resulted in the recovery of more than two pounds of crystal methamphetamine, along with suspected fentanyl, heroin and other drugs, which have a street value of over $20,000, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Department release.

About 12:21 a.m., Deputy Mike Smith observed a vehicle swerving back and forth while traveling on US25E, according to the release and the arrest citation.

Smith then conducted a traffic stop of the 2009 Dodge Nitro SUV, which was being driven by Andrew W. York, 35, of Barbourville.

According to the arrest citation, there was a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and the driver was asked to step outside the vehicle and perform field sobriety tests, which were administered by Kentucky State Police Trooper Josh Jones.

York allegedly failed at least one test and told police that he had taken suboxone earlier that day, Smith wrote on the arrest citation.

The Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force was contacted and responded with their K-9 unit, which made a positive alert on the driver and passenger’s side of the vehicle, according to police.

During the search, police recovered crystal methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, suboxone, suspected THC gummies, several unidentified pills, a set of digital scales and at least one needle, according to the release and citation.

A female passenger in the vehicle had to be taken to ARH hospital after she told police that she had swallowed about an ounce of methamphetamine, according to York’s arrest citation.

The female passenger told police that York allegedly advised her to swallow a bag with the drug, which had to be removed by a nurse at ARH, York’s arrest citation stated.

“The female passenger also advised Deputy Smith (that) the male had told her to put it in there or he would harm her life,” according to York’s arrest citation.

Smith arrested York and charged him with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of a marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, trafficking in a legend drug, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin), and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance.

He was booked into the Knox County Detention Center at 5:26 a.m. Wednesday.