SALYERSVILLE – Two people were arrested after a traffic stop on the Mountain Parkway yielded quantities of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia police believed to be used for drug trafficking.
On Thursday, March 21, just after 8 p.m., Kentucky State Police Trooper Ball pulled over a green Chrysler for reportedly speeding four miles over the speed limit, with the trooper noting in the arrest citation the vehicle was traveling too closely to a UPS truck.
The car was being driven by Jerry Dale Finch, 46, of Salyersville, and Felisha D. Crace, 34, of Jackson, was the passenger in the front seat. Trooper Ball noted Finch reportedly had slow reflexes and slurred speech, so he asked him to step out of the vehicle, at which time Finch told police he had a previous brain injury and could not do a field sobriety test, according to the citation.
Trooper Ball asked if there were anything illegal in the vehicle, at which time Finch said there was not and gave consent to police to search the vehicle. Trooper Saylor found in the passenger seat two syringes, one of which was loaded with a clear substance believed to be methamphetamine. The syringes were located inside a work glove, according to the citation.
Finch denied any knowledge of the syringes, stating he would bot have allowed police to search if he had known about the syringes, and attempted to revoke consent to search, but having found the syringes, they now had probable cause to continue searching, according to the police report.
Trooper Adam Hall brought canine Jax to check the vehicle, and the dog showed a change in his behavior at the trunk area of the vehicle. Inside the trunk, police found a .45 caliber Kimber model 1911 handgun (both occupants of the car had told police they are convicted felons). In a concealed magnet box positioned in the upper left part of the trunk, police found approximately 51 grams of a clear rock-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, as well as two sets of operating digital scales located in the dead space on the left side of the trunk. Police also collected $381 out of Finch’s wallet, which was left in the driver’s seat, according to the arrest citation.
After the Miranda Warning was read, Finch reportedly told police he purchased the drugs found in the trunk, but when asked if he had purchased them for sale, he said no, but asked what would be wrong with it if he had. He told police everything found in the car was his and Crace had no knowledge about it, but the two had told police two different stories about where they had stayed in Paris, KY, prior to driving to Salyersville, according to the citation.
Police stated in the report that with the amount of drugs being far more than a user’s amount (generally 0.25 to 2 grams) and the conflicting stories, Trooper Ball believed both traveled out of town and purchased drugs with the intent to distribute back in the Salyersville community.
The two were transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where both remain at press time.
Both are facing charges of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams methamphetamine); possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and buying or possessing drug paraphernalia, with Finch also receiving two traffic-related charges.
The two are scheduled for preliminary hearings in their felony-level cases for April 1 at 9:15 a.m. at the Magoffin County Justice Center.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
