BACK BRANCH – A Floyd County man was arrested in Magoffin County early on Monday morning and charged with trafficking in methamphetamine.
Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputies Neil Watson and Tyler Lafferty reported to a call of a possible drug overdose on Back Branch just after midnight on October 13, and when they arrived, they immediately observed a man walking on the gravel road with a black flashlight in his hands, according to the police report.
Upon the deputies’ arrival, the man, identified as Robert Lee Spradlin, 44, of Auxier, KY, immediately go to the passenger’s side of a nearby car, according to the police report.
Police asked Spradlin and the woman in the driver’s seat what was going on and where was the person who had overdosed, but then the person who had allegedly overdosed came walking up the driveway to a residence and was reportedly yelling and cursing. He claimed the two in the car had entered his home without permission and some of his items were missing, one being the black flashlight now laying on the ground next to his driveway.
Deputies Lafferty and Watson split up the man and woman in the car for questioning. The driver told police the missing jump box was not in the car and said they could search the vehicle. At that time, Deputy Watson approached the vehicle and asked Spradlin to step out so they could search for the alleged missing item, but Spradlin reportedly became combative and uncooperative with police, according to the arrest citation.
Police forcibly removed Spradlin from the vehicle, during which he reportedly dropped a plastic screw box labeled “Self Drilling Metal Screws” and containing the following: a bag with approximately 4 grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, a bag of approximately 3 grams of marijuana buds, a distribution baggie, a snorting straw with white residue and a Band-Aid, according to the police report.
During Spradlin’s arrest, the driver came up on Deputy Lafferty, reportedly interfering with the arrest and sticking a phone in his face, at which time he felt forced to push her away so they could finish arresting Spradlin, according to the citation.
Police also seized for evidence two cell phones, as well as the spare tire from the trunk with less than 20 PSI of air pressure, but weighed more than normal and was sweating around the rim. Police noted in the citation there were marks on the tire indicating it had been removed from the rim, but the tire and rim were in like-new condition, according to the citation.
Spradlin was taken into custody and transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he remains at press time, and is facing the following charges: trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree, first offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams methamphetamine); resisting arrest; menacing; tampering with physical evidence; and buying or possessing drug paraphernalia.
Spradlin is set for a preliminary hearing in the felony case on October 20 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.
