Martin County Arrest Report
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests:
John Griffith, 23, of Williamson, West Virginia, was arrested early Tuesday morning on Riverfront Road in Lovely for third-degree criminal trespassing and a bench warrant for court. Sheriff Kirk arrested Griffith on property where “no trespassing” signs were posted. According to the sheriff, Griffith had left a residence where he assaulted a female earlier. Griffith reportedly said he just wanted to use a phone to call his mother.
Jeffery D. Bowen, 58, of Inez, was arrested Monday on State Route 3 in Inez for CDL under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance.
Chief Deputy Chris Kidd responded to a call to Martin County 911 about a “green semi all over the road” on KY 645. The officer trailed Bowen and noticed Bowen crossed the white line, then corrected his travel two times.
Deputy Kidd conducted a traffic stop, but Bowen pulled back onto the roadway before he could make contact. When stopped again after traveling a short distance, Bowen stated he was confused. Deputy Kidd noted Bowen had slurred speech, difficulty speaking clearly and trouble keeping his balance. Bowen allegedly said he had taken three 800mg Gabapentin pills earlier. The police report states Bowen showed signs of impairment on a field sobriety test.
Joseph Stevens, 27, of Lovely, was arrested Sunday on Long Branch Road in Lovely on an indictment warrant charging him with four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. Deputy Chris Sesco made the arrest.
Robin Hinkle, 46, of Inez, was arrested Monday on Beauty Road in Warfield on a bench warrant. Sesco made the arrest.
Brianna Ellis, 19, of Tomahawk, was arrested Sunday at Zip Zone in Lovely for drug paraphernalia buy or possession, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and a bench warrant for court. After arresting Ellis on the bench warrant, Sheriff Kirk discovered she had meth and paraphernalia in her purse. The police report states Ellis had a syringe and two crystal rocks that she identified as methamphetamine.
Gabriel Cooper, 29, of Warfield, was arrested Friday on Hode Road, Warfield, for first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), second-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), resisting arrest and drug paraphernalia – buy or possession. Deputy Sesco was patrolling Hode Road and saw Cooper walking toward Dempsey Housing. According to the police report, the Dempsey manager stopped the officer and advised him that Cooper was not supposed to be at Dempsey. The deputy stated that while talking to Cooper, he noticed Cooper became nervous.
“For officer safety, I asked the subject if he had anything on him. He advised he did not. I asked the subject, ‘Can I search?’ He gave permission. When I started to check his left front pocket, I felt a round bottle… When asked what it was, the subject ran. When I caught up with the subject, he would not give me his hands. Once placed under arrest, I located methamphetamine and a meth pipe.”
Norman Fletcher, 72, of Inez, was arrested Friday at Quail Hollow Apartments in Inez for hindering prosecution or apprehension. Deputy Sesco reported that he and Deputy J.C. Kirk were serving a bench warrant when they spotted the individuals standing in the window. The officers knocked on the door and announced themselves, but Fletcher closed the curtains. After knocking several times, the officers contacted the landowner for a key to the apartment door. Once inside, they found Fletcher in his bathroom and his daughter hiding under his bed.
Kristi Fletcher, 34, of Inez, was arrested Friday at Quail Hollow in Inez for drug paraphernalia buy or possession and three bench warrants for court. Deputies Sesco and J.C. Kirk were serving a bench warrant on Fletcher when they located in plain sight a glass bulb with residue inside, which Fletcher said she used to smoke methamphetamine.
John Jude, 54, of Debord, was arrested Friday at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on an indictment warrant. Constable Brad Preece served the warrant.
William Henry Murphy, 76, of Warfield, was arrested Friday for hindering prosecution or apprehension, second degree. Deputy J.C. Kirk and other officers were serving a bench warrant on Kristi Fletcher at Quail Hollow Apartments and encountered Murphy. According to the police report, Murphy told law enforcement that Fletcher was at his residence in Warfield, “trying to get attention away from the apartment at the same time that I had eyes on Kristi Fletcher in her apartment.”
Destany Defenbaugh, 23, of Louisville, was arrested Thursday at Addiction Recovery Care in Inez on a bench warrant for court and probation violation for a felony offense. Chief Deputy Chris Kidd made the arrest.
Dustin Jude, 27, of Inez, was arrested Thursday for contempt of court. Sheriff Kirk made the arrest.
Brian Howell, 44, of Inez, was arrested Jan. 2 at Addiction Recovery Care on Old Route 3, Inez, for first-degree possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), drug paraphernalia – buy or possession, and a bench warrant for court. Deputy Kidd made the arrest.
Anna Williamson, 43, of Inez, was arrested Jan. 3 on Church Fork in Inez for third-degree possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified), drug paraphernalia – buy or possession, and possession of marijuana.
Deputy Kidd went to a residence on Church Fork to serve a warrant. Williamson opened the front door of the residence, exposing several syringes with needles on the floor in plain sight. The officer also found a glass pipe typically used for smoking methamphetamine. Williamson reportedly stated that all she had on her person was a joint, then produced a burnt substance from her pocket.
Elvie Daniels Wallace, 38, and Charles Wallace, 58, of Tomahawk, were arrested Jan. 2 for endangering the welfare of a minor, criminal abuse, third degree (child 12 or under), and unlawful transaction with a minor, third degree.
Deputy Kidd responded to a call to perform a welfare check on two juvenile children at the Wallace residence on Wooten Road in Tomahawk. He discovered the doublewide structure was leaning and showed signs of recent fire damage. He found the two children, ages 6 and 7, in an excessively dirty state with black dirt on their faces and feet. The interior of the home was full of clutter and garbage to the point of being impassable.
The deputy noted the roof was partially missing, having recently caught fire, and the roof trusses were dangling with exposed nails and screws. There was no kitchen or running water, and the only toilet in the home was non-functional and overflowing with feces.
According to the police report, open flames and heat sources were left uncovered and within easy reach of the children. Open-blade knives were scattered on the floor. The exterior of the home had holes in the walls and a complete lack of insulation.
When questioned, the parents allegedly admitted that their children had never been enrolled in any form of schooling. They stated they tried to do home-schooling but could never set it up. Both said they knew the children should be in some type of school.
Other arrests
Casey Spence, 25, of Inez, was arrested Thursday for third-degree criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, fleeing or evading police, first degree (on foot), second-degree assault of police officer, and third-degree criminal mischief. Johnson County officer Stapleton made the arrest.
Kristin Slone, 27, of Inez, was arrested Friday on a warrant for court. Floyd County Deputy Powers made the arrest.