From WRIL - The Big One -
On Monday night June 26, 2023, at approximately 8:00pm Middlesboro Officer Jacob Quillen was on patrol when he observed a white Crown Victoria leave the Polly Hollow area onto KY 441.
The officer ran the registration of the vehicle through dispatch and was advised that the registration was canceled due to a lack of insurance. Officer Quillen then initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at New Wilson Lane and Cumberland Avenue. After making contact with the driver, 57-year-old Ricky Owens of Middlesboro, he produced an expired insurance card.
Due to Owens leaving a high drug traffic area, he was asked if had anything illegal in the vehicle, to which he answered no. He was also asked for consent to have his vehicle searched and he also stated no. Officer Quillen then requested K-9 Sgt. Nick Capps who ran his K-9 Rahab around the vehicle, and he alerted.
Owens was removed from the vehicle and a search took place which revealed suspected Methamphetamine in three separate containers, two clear plastic bags containing suspected Marijuana, a glass smoking device containing an undetermined substance, two Suboxone strips, a Hydrocodone pill, Hydromorphone pills, and Diazepam pills. He also had a scale, distribution bags, $357 in cash, and a firearm. Both of his cell phones were also seized.
Ricky Owens was arrested and lodged in the Bell County Detention Center charged with failure to maintain insurance, no registration plates, failure to produce insurance card, trafficking in controlled substance – 1st degree, 1st offense (greater than or equal to two grams (Methamphetamine), trafficking in controlled substance – 3rd degree, 1st offense (less than twenty dosage units – drug unspecified), possession of controlled substance – 1st degree, 1st offense (drug unspecified), possession of Marijuana, possession of controlled substance – 2nd degree (drug unspecified), and possession of controlled substance – 3rd degree (drug unspecified).
Also assisting was Officer Morgan Justice.