‘A ton of narcotics’

Sept. 05--A Benham couple is facing multiple drug charges following their arrest on Thursday.

Travis White, 31, and Tonya G. Hill, 41, both of Benham, were arrested by Benham City Police Officer Ryan Shepherd following a traffic stop.

"After I stopped the vehicle, I walked up and the operator was Travis White," said Shepherd. "Everyone in the vehicle was acting really nervous."

Shepherd said White agreed to a sobriety test.

"He presented more than four indicators when the HGN test was performed," said Shepherd. "He had indicators including slurred speech and instability ... he did give me consent to search his vehicle."

Shepherd said he found a pack that included two syringes and various amounts of suspected narcotics.

"He had what is believed to be Sudafed inside the vehicle," said Shepherd. "He also had in a hidden compartment just under the center console two full boxes of prescribed Sudafed."

According to Shepherd, a large amount of materials that can be used in the production of methamphetamine were also located.

"We pretty much recovered everything you need to make a meth lab," said Shepherd.

Shepherd said Hill was also under the influence.

"She had a purse sitting next to her ... I asked her for consent to search her purse," said Shepherd. "There was a ton of narcotics. Numerous syringes, pills, prescription medication that was not belonging to her. She also had a substance called Liquid Fire."

"It's one of the main ingredients to activate a meth lab," said Shepherd.

Shepherd was assisted by Benham Police Chief Drew Woods, Cumberland Police Officers Mark Saylor and Cody Bargo, Lynch Police Officer John Brown and The Harlan City Police Department.

White was charged with no registration plates, no registration receipt, failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, manufacturing methamphetamine, second-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a meth precursor and failure to register transfer of motor vehicle.

Hill was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, second-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication by controlled substance (excludes alcohol).

White and Hill were lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.

The case is under investigation by Shepherd.

In other police activity:

-- Tony Halburnt, 50, of Harlan, was arrested by Loyall Police Chief Mike Lunsford on Thursday. Halburnt was charged with two counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance and lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on two full cash bonds totaling $10,000;

-- Kim Howard, 35, of Wallins, was arrested by Kentucky State Police Trooper Jared Boggs on Friday and charged with theft by unlawful taking. Howard was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $2,000 full cash bond;

-- Waldon Hendrix, 46, of Wallins, was arrested on Thursday by Lunsford on a charge of flagrant non-support. Hendrix was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $1,000 full cash bond;

-- Michael Taulbee, 19, of Harlan, was arrested on Friday by Harlan County Sheriff's Deputy Charles Bailey on charges of second-degree assault and second-degree criminal trespassing. Bailey was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on full cash bonds totaling $11,000.

Joe P. Asher may be reached at 606-573-4510, ext. 1161 or on Twitter #joe_hde

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