Published: July 01, 2009 09:00 am      

Whitley deputies arrest six in meth lab bust

Ivy Brashear / Staff Writer

The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department made arrests in a six-week long investigation into a possible methamphetamine lab at 620 Bacon Creek Road, just outside of Corbin.

Sheriff Lawrence Hodge, along with six other deputies, went to the home on Sunday and found Kelly P. Coffey, 36, of Rockholds, Alicia M. Siler, 19, of Williamsburg, and Kenneth L. Buchanan, 27, of Corbin, at the residence, according to a release from the Sheriff’s office.

Deputies searched the home and found a small black bag under the side porch that contained a plastic bag containing about six grams of methamphetamine, according to the release.

Also found on the property were “several pseudoephedrine tablets, two glass narcotics pipes and several small electronic scales,” along with “key items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine,” including coffee filters, aluminum foil and Coleman fuel.

During the course of the investigation, Sheriff’s Sergeant Denny Shelley discovered a small-semi-automatic handgun hidden in a McDonald’s bag, according to the release.

Coffey, Siler and Buchanan were arrested and charged with possession of controlled substance, possession of meth precursors and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.

While at the home, several calls were received on Buchanan’s cell phone, with the callers wanting to buy illegal substances. According to the release, one of the callers came to the house and another noticed the officers and tried to run from them. He was eventually caught and both parties were arrested and charged with alcohol intoxication and attempting to possess/buy a controlled substance.

These three include: Jack Armstrong, 38, of Rockholds, James Hill, 43, of Corbin and Christopher Bobbitt, 22, of Corbin.

The Corbin Police Department helped with the investigation, and according to the release, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department said their assistance was “greatly appreciated.”

According to the release, the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected in the future.