Sheriff taking aim at drugs

By Greg Bird
birdman@tmcvoice.com

Sheriff Randy Waters reports two more drug busts over the past week, with his office seizing several ounces of methamphetamine, other drugs, paraphernalia and cash.

Last week Rodney Wayne Hamby, 33, of Whitley City was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance at his Williamsburg Street residence after selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant.

After the sale Sheriff Waters and Deputy Alex Jones obtained a search warrant for Hamby’s residence where drugs, cash, drug paraphernalia and at least one weapon was seized.

Hamby could face additional charges regarding the weapon as Sheriff Waters stated he is a convicted felon.

On Sunday night an additional raid was conducted at a separate residence where more drugs were recovered.

No charges have been filed as of yet in that case, as the investigation is ongoing.

In the past month there have been six total drug-related cases where a significant amount of drugs have been found and recovered.

Sheriff Waters stated the recent string of arrests come after investigations and ground work by his Deputies in identifying potential suspects through information gained from prior arrests.

“We have had a good run lately,” Sheriff Randy Waters said. “A direct result of hard work and investigations by my officers and myself is the fact that we are able to identify and target some major suppliers and distributors of illegal drugs in this county.”

“Some of these cases take time to put together before we are able to take them down, but we are constantly working on them every chance we get.”

Editors note: in a follow up to a related story in our October 12 issue – Justin Eldridge, who was one of five charged with trafficking after a Sheriff’s Department investigation, has had all charges dismissed without prejudice in McCreary County District Court. Cases against the other four individuals are still ongoing.