STANFORD – The Stanford Police Department’s Special Operations Division is off to a busy start following the New Year’s holiday, according to Police Chief Zach Middleton.

Middleton said within the first week of the new year, multiple drug-related arrests resulted in the seizure of about 130 grams of methamphetamine, as well as various amounts of heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

Jan. 1

About an hour into the new year, Officer Preston Middleton stopped a vehicle on U.S. 27 with an inoperable brake light. The driver, identified as Harley D. Jones, 24, of Lancaster, had two active warrants.

According to the arrest citation, there was a hypodermic needle visible on the center console and during a subsequent search of the vehicle Middleton noticed a small, clear baggie sticking out of the steering column of the dashboard.

Middleton recovered what turned out to be a large bag of suspected crystal methamphetamine. The bag contained approximately 26.3 grams of methamphetamine, according to the citation.

Jones was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license and no brake lights.

Jan. 6

After conducting surveillance of 113 Pettus Court for three days, Stanford’s Special Operations Investigator stopped a blue jeep as it was leaving the residence. The driver, Ronnie L. Maples, 33, of Hustonville, had an active warrant for failure to pay child support.

During the traffic stop, Maples allegedly stated he had a large amount of crystal methamphetamine on his person. Police located 64 grams of methamphetamine, and $641 in cash consistent with drug trafficking.

Maples was arrested and charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

At about the same time as Maples’ arrest, Stanford Police Officer Chase Marcum had also stopped a vehicle due to an obstructed license plate.

The Honda Accord had been seen leaving Pettus Court, as well, before turning onto Lancaster Street and then onto Main Street where the traffic stop was conducted.

Wesley Harold Simpson, 38, of Harrodsburg, was identified as the driver.

While standing at the driver’s window, Marcum said he observed a large amount of cash in the subject’s wallet and smelled a faint odor of marijuana.

Simpson allegedly told the officer there may be a marijuana cigarette in the vehicle and consented to a search of the car.

Police located a hypodermic needle in Simpson’s front left pocket, a marijuana cigarette in a cigarette pack in the center console and individually packaged baggies of a powdery substance, which Simpson said was cocaine.

Marcum also located digital scales, multiple small, clear baggies consistent with narcotics use and spoons with powdery residue on them. There was about $4,000 in cash in Simpson’s wallet, according to the arrest citation.

Simpson was arrested and charged with having an illegible license plate, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine), but additional charges came when he was being booked into the Lincoln County Regional Jail.

More narcotics were found as the Deputy Jailer did an extended search and located more cocaine and marijuana, as well as about 35.5 grams of heroin.

Simpson was charged with a second count of trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin), tampering with physical evidence and promoting contraband.

Traffic stops lead to search warrant

As a result of the two traffic stops, a search warrant for 113 Pettus Court was obtained and executed. When Police arrived, they found three adults Dallas Worley, 29, of Waynesburg, Danielle M. Smith, 23, of 113 Pettus Court, and Jerry L. Salyers, 54, of Kings Mountain.

There were also two children, ages two and four.

During the search, police located several items of drug paraphernalia, as well as suspected marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine.

“Located on the first floor was a small baggie in the kitchen floor with a white powder substance believed to be cocaine and a small marijuana cigarette,” the citation states.

More marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine was found in the basement.

Worley, Smith and Salyers were arrested and charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a minor.

Through the investigation police learned that Jeremy “Ryan” Salyers, 26, of 113 Pettus Court, had left the residence just prior to the execution of the search warrant. Salyers was contacted by phone by his fiancé, Smith, while police were at the residence, but he refused to return to the residence during the course of the investigation.

Salyers was later arrested on a search warrant, according to police.

According to the arrest citations, police learned that subjects at the residence regularly “trade drugs for ‘items.’” On the day the search warrant was executed, police said an iPhone was purchased with approximately half a gram of cocaine.

Worley allegedly told police the situation became serious when “$2,000 was missing from Lees Famous Recipe bank bag that Smith was responsible for.”

The parties involved allegedly began selling methamphetamine to make money to pay back the bank bag.

Worley told police Ryan Salyers “didn’t know how to sell.” Worley and Salyers allegedly left the residence prior to the search warrant with close to an ounce of methamphetamine in an effort to sell it because “neither Worley or Ryan had a steady source of income.”

As of Wednesday this week, Jerry Salyers was the only one who remained lodged in the Lincoln County Regional Jail.

The entire investigation, including the two traffic stops, resulted in the seizure of about 100 grams of methamphetamine, seven grams of cocaine, 12 grams of marijuana and approximately $5,600 in cash.