MOUNT STERLING – A Salyersville woman was arrested in Mount Sterling for allegedly promoting contraband and drug trafficking after a traffic stop.
According to the arrest citation, on May 10 Montgomery County Sheriff Department Officer M. Grapner initiated a traffic stop after observing Courtney Helton, 40, of Salyersville, driving eastbound on US 64 and swerving side-to-side.
Helton reportedly failed to stop her vehicle for around a mile, then stopped in the middle of both lanes of the interstate. Police gave her orders to exit the vehicle, but she did not comply, and the officer reportedly fought with her to get her out of the vehicle, with the two fighting in the middle of the interstate where several vehicles almost hit both of them as they drove past, according to the arrest citation.
Helton allegedly displayed several signs of impairment, including slurred speech, pinpoint pupils that did not react to light, and the inability to stand or walk properly. The police officer reported that Helton had blood all over her face, mouth and hands when she was arrested.
Police also reported observing Helton actively digging in the region between her legs “as to tamper with evidence and conceal it,” according to the arrest citation.
Helton admitted to taking narcotics in the past and suboxone prior to driving. Police searched the vehicle and reportedly found multiple used and unused needles/syringes and other drug paraphernalia, such as plastic bags to package narcotics for distribution and torches to smoke narcotics. Law enforcement also found a large sum of cash inside the vehicle.
Police transported Helton to St. Joseph Mt. Sterling Hospital for a DUI blood draw, which she refused, but while there, law enforcement observed two bags of narcotics in Helton’s waistband of her pants, which the officer identified as methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to the arrest citation.
While at the Montgomery County Regional Jail, the jail deputy located three more bags of narcotics, two with fentanyl and one with crack cocaine. As required by all inmates, Helton was required to submit to a urine sample drug test, which reportedly tested positive for amphetamine, buprenorphine, benzodiazepine, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, morphine/opiates and fentanyl, according to the police report.
She was held and later released on bond pending future court dates, facing the following charges: operating a motor vehicle under the influence – 1st (aggravating circumstances); second-degree disorderly conduct; promoting contraband – fentanyl, carfentanil or derivative; first-degree promoting contraband; wanton endangerment, first degree, police officer; tampering with physical evidence; aggravated trafficking in a controlled substance, greater than or equal to 28 grams fentanyl; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, less than 2 grams methamphetamine; and first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, less than 4 grams cocaine.
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.
