Williamsburg police arrest five while executing narcotics search warrant

Williamsburg police seized suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, pills, cash and an assortment of drug paraphernalia while executing a narcotics search warrant last Thursday evening at a 650 Shelby Hurst Road residence, according to a Williamsburg Police Department release.

A total of five people were arrested in connection with the case, including one man, who is also accused of assaulting two police officers, the release noted.

Roger Linden Rutherford, 45, of Williamsburg, was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, resisting arrest and third-degree assault of a police officer.

Christopher D. Hayes, 51, of Williamsburg, was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Donald Ray Hurst, 52, and Opal M. Hurst, 54, both of Hattie Lambdin Road, Williamsburg, were charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A fifth person, Danny Lee McFarland, 46, of Williamsburg, was served with an indictment warrant charging him with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). He was also served with a bench warrant for non-payment of fines, according to the release and the jail’s website.

All five were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Police executed the warrant about 9:45 p.m. at the home of Rutherford and Hayes. When police arrived, Donald and Opal Hurst were in a vehicle in the driveway of the residence, according to arrest citations.

Williamsburg Police Officer Dorman Patrick wrote on Rutherford’s arrest citation that when he first made contact with Rutherford, he was passed out and slumped over with a needle in his lap.

Patrick shouted at him several times to wake him up, and ordered him to comply and walk towards him, but there was no response. Patrick then grabbed Rutherford and tried to take him into custody, a citation stated.

Rutherford allegedly would not follow police commands, held onto things, would not move, would not put his hands behind his back and lunged towards Patrick in an aggressive manner, Patrick wrote.

With assistance from Constable Ron Bowling and Officer Chad Foley, Rutherford was taken into custody.

“During the altercation, Officer Foley received a small laceration to his left arm and I received a minor laceration to my right arm,” Patrick wrote.

During a search of Rutherford and a search of where he was located, police found needles, a digital scale, several suspected amphetamine pill tablets and suspected marijuana, according to his arrest citation.

During a search of the premises and of Hayes, police found suspected methamphetamine, Klonopin pill tablets, digital scales, suspected marijuana and cash, according to Hayes arrest citation.

During a search of Donald and Opal Hurst’s vehicle, police allegedly found about 0.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, one set of digital scales and a glass smoking pipe, according to their arrest citations.

Opal Hurst had $223 in her possession and Donald Hurst had $13, according to their arrest citations.

Other officers participating in the execution of the search warrant included:

Williamsburg Police Sgt. Elijah Hunter, Officer Eddie Cain and Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brently Patrick.