Published: March 08, 2008 08:20 pm      

CKADTF arrests total 13, part of National drug blitz

The Central Kentucky Area Drug Task Force wrapped up its “Operation Tweak Week” Wednesday with two late arrests, bringing the total to 13 as a result of a National drug sting.

Bobby Randall Thomas, 58, and Elizabeth Powell, 59, both of Berea Road, were arrested by the task force and charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

“During the last hours of the roundup, CKADTF Detective Jason Parker and Madison County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tim Humble investigated a tip related to drug trafficking at Battlefield Apartments,” said Rick Johnson, CKADTF director. “Officers made contact with Bobby Thomas and Elizabeth Powell. ... Upon interviewing Elizabeth Powell and upon further investigation, officers located approximately 13 grams of suspected crack cocaine in Powell’s pocket.”

A search warrant was executed at the residence which resulted in the location of nine grams of powder cocaine inside a purse.

“... A small amount of marijuana, a plastic bottle with a metal tube stuck in the side that had been made into a pipe or a bong, an item commonly used to smoke marijuana (also were found),” Johnson said. “Officers also seized a Chore boy and plastic baggies. Chore boy is paraphernalia that is used to ingest or smoke crack cocaine.”

The street value of the 13 grams of crack cocaine is between $1,300 and $1,500, Johnson said. The powder cocaine is valued on the street at about $1,000. The task force rounded up 11 people on various drug charges earlier Wednesday.

“This is kind of highlighting the work that the task forces — including the Kentucky State Police, Lexington and Louisville Metro Police and all the task forces in Kentucky — do,” Johnson said. “It was coordinated on the dates in conjunction with Operation Byrne Blitz.”

The operation was named for federal funding — Byrne/JAG — that was cut by President George W. Bush in an omnibus appropriations bill in December by $350 million. Byrne/JAG “provides funding to states and local areas to improve criminal justice system operations,” according to a National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition press release.

In Madison County, it provides $75,000 of the CKADTF’s $110,000 annual budget, Johnson said.

Across the state, 23 meth labs were discovered, more than 2,400 pounds of pot were seized, 16 drug-endangered children were identified and 565 people were arrested for illegal drug use in a 24-hour time period, a Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet press release stated Friday.

“The impact of our drug task forces can be clearly seen in the success of this one-day blitz,” said J. Michael Brown, Justice and Public Safety secretary. “While combining these efforts in a 24-hour period makes a statement, it’s important to remember that these types of activities go on every day and are a critical tool in eradicating illegal use.”

Johnson added that these activities are critical to eliminate illegal sales as well.

“The large number of arrests and seizures that each drug task force made is representative of what Kentucky’s law enforcement can accomplish when resources are pulled together to take illegal drugs off the streets,” said Tommy Loving, executive director of Kentucky Narcotics Officers Association. “As a statewide organization, KNOA is hopeful that Congress will see how devastating cuts of this magnitude would be to intensive drug enforcement efforts like these.”

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.