BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Law enforcement seized suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine Friday evening while serving an out-of-state warrant at a residence in Inez.
Martin County Sheriff John Kirk and Deputy J.C. Kirk went to the Fitch Branch Road home of Kenneth Allen Rose, 34, to serve a warrant from Wayne County, West Virginia.
According to Deputy Kirk, he observed Rose through a window, sitting on a couch in the living room. An unidentified woman allowed the officers inside after they knocked on the door.
Deputy Kirk said he saw Rose slide an object underneath a coffee table as they entered the residence.
The officers arrested Rose and placed him in restraints, then retrieved the object Rose allegedly tried to conceal.
“It was a clear bag containing a substance believed to be fentanyl,” Deputy Kirk said.
Officers also identified another man inside the residence as Vernon Sluss, 55, of Pilgrim. A records check showed Sluss had an active warrant for a probation violation.
While deputies were taking Sluss into custody, Deputy Kirk said he observed a larger clear bag containing a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Rose’s charges include possession of a controlled substance, first degree (fentanyl), tampering with physical evidence and fugitive from another state – warrant required.
Sluss is facing a charge of probation violation (for a felony offense).
“The sheriff and I are thankful that this arrest led to the drugs being confiscated and taken out of circulation,” Deputy Kirk said. “Fentanyl is a powerful and dangerous drug that has led to many overdoses, some of which were fatal, here in our county. Every drug arrest matters, and every drug arrest means we have taken one more step in the right direction.”
The suspected drugs will go to the lab for analysis, the deputy said.
Sheriff Kirk urged residents to report suspected drug trafficking by calling his office at 606-298-2810.
“We can only take our communities back if we all do our part,” the sheriff said. “There’s little that goes on in Martin County that someone does not witness. Please remember that we don’t need to know your name. We only need the information you can provide about the drug activity. The life you save by helping get the dealers off the street could easily end up being your own family member.”
All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.