SALYERSVILLE – Last Thursday night police were called to a home in downtown Salyersville for possible drug trafficking and a child welfare check, yielding two arrests.
Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputy W. Lafferty received multiple complaints to check a residence on East Maple Street in downtown Salyersville on July 10, including a report of minors at the residence with a possible drug overdose.
Deputies Lafferty and N. Watson arrived at the home and first checked on the two children that were living in the home. In the upstairs bedroom where a two-year-old was sleeping, along with an adult male relative, police found a decorative cardboard box contained used and loaded syringes, with one syringe uncapped and a needle exposed, according to the police reports.
Deputy Watson told the man, identified as Brandon Curtis Simpkins, 40, of East Maple Street, to take the two-year-old and move to the living room area where everyone else was also instructed to go to while they performed the welfare check, according to the police report.
A woman at the residence, identified as Betty Simpkins, 61, of East Maple Street, told police she had sold her boyfriend’s Gabapentin to pay for her car, with police noting the prescription bottle should have had approximately 90 Gabapentin left, but there were only 30 in the bottle. Police also found $4,021 in cash in the residence, according to the citation.
After police asked if Simpkins had anything on her, she stated “no,” but when asked, again, she shook out her bra and two Klonopin fell to the floor, according to the police report. She asked if she could use the restroom and, when she did, she admitted to flushing Suboxone, according to the arrest citation.
Both Brandon and Betty Simpkins were taken into custody, and taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. Betty was released the next day, with an arraignment set for July 28, facing the charges of third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (less than 20 dosage units, drug unspecified); third-degree possession of a controlled substance – drug unspecified; and tampering with physical evidence.
At press time, Brandon remains in jail on a $1,000 cash bond, with a preliminary hearing set for July 21 and facing the following charges: buying or possessing drug paraphernalia; first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, drug unspecified; and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Social services were contacted and the children were sent home with a relative.
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.
