BLOOMINGTON – Three people are in jail on suspected drug trafficking-related charges after police witnessed a car traveling at a high rate of speed in the Bloomington Loop area.
Early in the morning on Wednesday, September 25, according to police reports Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputies D. Watson and N. Watson were sitting and observing the Bloomington Loop area when they saw a silver car traveling at a high rate of speed on old US 460. After observing the same car occupied three times, police approached the car, noting a strong marijuana odor coming from the vehicle. Police asked the occupants where they were going at such a high rate of speed and who was driving.
Kevin Eugene Tucker, 64, of Berry, KY, was sitting behind the wheel when police approached, but said another person was driving the car and they had just pulled into his residence, according to the police report.
At that time, the person Tucker had identified to be the alleged driver, Heather N. McKinney, 37, of Salyersville, stepped out the back door of the residence into the garage where one of the deputies was standing and told her not to move.
McKinney reportedly yelled an expletive and ran back into the home, but police chased her inside and she was detained since she was wanted on previous warrants. Police found a crystal, rock-like substance believed to be methamphetamine wrapped up in a paper towel in her pocket, then after taking her to the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office, a more thorough search was performed and police located approximately 22 grams of a white crystal, rock-like substance in her bra, according to the citations.
Police also ran the information of the other three occupants of the vehicle, with another person coming back with active police warrants, according to the arrest citations.
While searching the vehicle, police found a gray shaving kit bag belonging to Kevin Tucker with a set of scales, a small bag of marijuana buds, prescription pill bottle full of marijuana roaches and a rocky lick substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to the citations.
Joseph Lee Hensley, 39, of Carlisle, KY, was also an occupant of the vehicle, with police finding in his bag four syringes, a set of scales and two tourniquets.
The three were taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where they remain at press time, facing the following charges:
Kevin Tucker is charged with trafficking in marijuana (less than 8 oz.), first offense; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (less than 2 grams of methamphetamine); and buying or possessing drug paraphernalia.
Joseph Lee Hensley was charged with five counts of buying or possessing drug paraphernalia.
Heather N. McKinney was originally charged with third-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense (methamphetamine); and tampering with physical evidence. After finding more suspected methamphetamine in her bra, she was also charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams of methamphetamine.
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.
