From the Middlesboro Police Department -
On Friday night September 9, 2022, at approximately 10:10pm K-9 Sgt. Nicholas Capps observed a gray Kia Forte exit the Cumberland Gap Tunnel on Highway 25E northbound at a high rate of speed.
As the sergeant initiated a traffic stop, he saw an item thrown from the passenger window of the vehicle. Capps then requested assistance from Lt. Clay Hurd and Officers Morgan Justice, Jacob Quillen, and Caleb Ayers to locate the evidence.
After stopping the vehicle, Sgt. Capps made contact with the driver, 33-year-old Rafael Erick Flores of Arlington, Texas. Capps smelled an odor of Marijuana coming from the vehicle and Flores freely surrendered the substance he had in his possession.
Quickly found by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson and Patrolman Jacob Quillen was approximately 1.9 pounds of a white substance believed to be Cocaine that had been thrown from the vehicle by Flores in the area Sgt. Capps advised.
Flores was taken into custody and lodged in the Bell County Detention Center, charged with trafficking controlled substance – 1st degree, 1st offense - greater than or equal to 4 grams (Cocaine), possession of Marijuana, tampering with physical evidence, drug paraphernalia, speeding 19mph over the limit, and no operator’s license.
Sgt. Capps would like to thank the staff of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel for their assistance during this incident.