Three arrested in drug bust

COW CREEK – Three were arrested in a drug bust Sunday evening after police pulled over a speeding vehicle.

According to the arrest citations, Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputy Dewey Marshall conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle because it was travelling at a high rate of speed across Cow Creek Road on April 18.

After conducting the traffic stop, MCSO Deputy J. Osborne, asked the female subject to step out of the vehicle. She told police that, to her knowledge, nothing illegal was in the vehicle and she gave them consent to search it.

During the search, police found the following: a 9mm handgun, 4.017 oz of a crystal-like substance in a clear container with a purple lid, 10.68g of a crystal-like substance in a clear plastic bag, 0.084g of a white powder substance in a clear plastic bag, 36.65g of a gray powder in a clear container, 20.431g of a gray powder in another clear container, 14.12g gray powder in a film canister, two needles with a purple substance in it, one needle with a clear substance in it, a small round orange poll that appeared to be suboxone, and a 9 mm Taurus handgun.

The three occupants of the car, listed below with their current charges, were all taken into custody and transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

Melissa S. Arnett, 35, of Salyersville, who has since been released pending future court dates, is charged with reckless driving; trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree, first offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams methamphetamine); trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (heroin); drug paraphernalia – buy/possess; and possession of a controlled substance, second degree, drug unspecified.

Alvin C. Ratliff Jr., 37, of Salyersville, is charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree, first offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams methamphetamine); trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (heroin); drug paraphernalia – buy/possess; and possession of a controlled substance, second degree, drug unspecified; and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

Matthew Mullins, 31, also of Salyersville, is charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree, first offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams methamphetamine); trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (heroin); drug paraphernalia – buy/possess; and possession of a controlled substance, second degree, drug unspecified; and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

The three are scheduled for preliminary hearings in their felony cases on April 26 at 10 a.m.

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.