From WRIL -
On Sunday night September 5, 2021, Barbourville Officer Karl Middleton responded to McDonald’s on Highway 25E to take a report on a theft. As he went into the restaurant the officer noticed a suspicious Toyota Corolla sitting beside his vehicle so he requested a license plate check from dispatch. Once returning to his patrol car the tag came back as a stolen vehicle, but the vehicle left the area.
Officer Middleton then attempted to locate the Corolla and was advised by dispatch of a wreck on Sycamore drive in which two male individuals had left the scene of the accident.
Patrolman Josh Lawson arrived at the accident scene advising Middleton that the vehicle he was looking for was involved and had struck a utility pole. This caused a power outage in the city of Barbourville for an extended period of time. A bystander stated that one of the two men was heading towards Pitzer Street while the other went towards Thompson Park.
After being contacted by another individual on the whereabouts of one man, Middleton found 18-year-old Keontay Collett of Middlesboro walking near Daniel Boone Drive and South Ky 11. He was positively identified as being the passenger in the Corolla and during his arrest set of digital scales was found on Collett.
During a search of the vehicle, Officer Lawson found a defaced loaded firearm and a black magnetic box containing a large amount of suspected Methamphetamine, a bag of Marijuana, a syringe, and multiple distribution baggies.
Officer Middleton was contacted by dispatch stating the other individual, 22-year-old Jordan D. Price also of Middlesboro, was sitting on the back steps of the courthouse. Price was identified as the driver of the Corolla.
Both men were arrested and lodged in the Knox County Detention Center charged with trafficking in controlled substance – 1st degree, 1st offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams of Methamphetamine), possession of Marijuana, criminal mischief – 1st degree, leaving the scene of an accident – failure to render aid, fleeing or evading police – 2nd degree (on foot), possession of defaced firearm, and receiving stolen property over $1,000 but under $10,000.
They are both being held on $10,000 cash bonds each.
Power was out for over and hour and a half in the city of Barbourville.