Four arrested on drug charges

Four people were arrested Wednesday night after Deputy Milford Creekmore conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle suspected to be carrying drugs.

That evening officers had received reports of a white Cadillac that had been “running the roads” and was suspected of carrying illegal substances.

After witnessing the vehicle in question drive erratically, crossing both the center- line and the white line, a traffic stop was initiated on U.S. 27 around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

U.S. Forest Service Officer Tim Grooms was called to the scene with his K9 Officer to assist. The K9 officer “hit” on two locations on the vehicle, and a search of the contents was initiated.

Officers discovered several glass pipes, scales and two baggies containing suspected methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Bradley Smith, 38, of Somerset was arrested and charged with Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance, in addition to several traffic-related charges.

Three passengers, identified as Jenny Alice Kidd, 32, of Pine Knot, Zachery Dean Rexroat, 26, of Somerset and Brenda Lee Smith, 35, of Pine Knot were also arrested and face trafficking and possession charges as well.

Also assisting at the scene were Sheriff Randy Waters, Deputies Odell Smith, Greg Chaney, Tommy Lewis, and Cody Stephens.

Earlier that evening, on a separate but related case, officers responded to a call of a suspicious person who had been reported to be wandering around a neighborhood.

When officers arrived at the scene they found Charles B. Kennedy, 27, of Somerset on a porch at a residence. The occupant of the residence did not know the suspect and reported he had no business being there.

Deputy Smith, who made the arrest, stated the suspect was “very tense” and reportedly stated he wanted the officers to shoot him. When attempting to take Kennedy in to custody, he began to resist and fought with officers.

After being restrained he admitted he had taken methamphetamine in the past.

When he was placed in the back of the police cruiser, Mr. Kennedy produced a lighter he had secreted somewhere on his person, and reportedly tried to light a fire in the vehicle.

Kennedy was charged with Criminal Mischief, Arson, Menacing, Resisting Arrest, Public Intoxication of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Trespassing.