Ten alleged drug dealers targeted in Operation Turkey Surprise

Whitley County law enforcement officers hit the roads Tuesday morning as part of Operation Turkey Surprise, in search of 10 suspects who were wanted on various drug trafficking charges.

"We had 10 alleged drug dealers targeted for arrest today," Sheriff Colan Harrell said Tuesday morning.

Harrell said the sheriff’s department investigation took place over the last 11 months and involved confidential informants making controlled drug purchases from the suspects. All the drug transactions were caught on video.

Harrell said most of the drug purchases involved prescription pain pills, but there were also suspects wanted for trafficking in methamphetamine and one suspect, who was wanted for trafficking in LSD and Ecstasy.

Harrell said LSD and Ecstasy are rare and that this was the first time his department had ever purchased those two drugs in Whitley County.

Harrell said that his department plans to conduct more drug round-ups in the not too distant future.

So is the drug problem getting better or worse in Whitley County?

"We do what we can on it," Harrell noted. "The public is pleased with what we are doing based on the feedback that I have received. Our good Lord will have to send us an answer on how to 100 percent stop it."

Anyone wanting to report a drug tip to sheriff’s deputies is asked to contact the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department at 549-6006, but Harrell hopes to have a drug tip line set up before the end of the year.

Those arrested so far in connection with Tuesday’s round-up include:

• John Jones, 46, of Emlyn – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug transaction allegedly took place on Cowbell Lane in Emlyn.

• Anna Meeler, 35, of Corbin – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance-LSD and Ecstasy. The drug transaction allegedly took place at Valley View Apartments in Corbin.

• Nannie Early, 53, of Williamsburg – second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug transaction allegedly took place on Rice Street in the Highland Park area of Williamsburg.

• Breton Hopkins, 34, of Woodbine – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance-methamphetamine. The drug transaction allegedly took place at Friendly Foodmart in Woodbine.

Another suspect, Bobby Strunk, 50, of Williamsburg, was already in jail at the Whitley County Detention Center on a methamphetamine manufacturing charge, according to detention center records.

Sheriff’s deputies served him with an arrest warrant Tuesday charging him with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance-methamphetamine. The drug transaction allegedly took place at Wal-Mart in Williamsburg.

Additional suspects wanted by sheriff’s deputies, include:

• Mickie Shawn Davis, 40 – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug transaction allegedly took place on Cowbell Lane in Emlyn.

• Arthur Hill, 48 – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug transaction allegedly took place on Old Coal Road in Williamsburg.

• John McKiddy, 32 – second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug transaction allegedly took place on Rice Street in the Highland Park area of Williamsburg.

• Amy Bays, 33 – second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug transaction allegedly took place in the parking lot of Wal-Mart in Williamsburg.

• Kevin Brimm, 22 – second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug transaction allegedly took place at Taco Bell in Williamsburg.

Anyone with information about the suspects’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department at 549-6006 during regular business hours or at 549-6017 after regular business hours.

Officers taking part in the round-up included: Sheriff Harrell, Chief Deputy K.Y. Fuson, Deputy Cody Harrell, Detective Tim Baker, Detective John Hill, Sgt. Jeff Anderson, Deputy Derek Eubanks and Kentucky State Police Trooper David Lassiter.