Nola Sizemore
Staff Writer
The Harlan County Sheriff’s Office seized over 1,000 illegal pills, which included Xanax, buzz bars, oxymorphone and several other unidentified pills, a large quantity of marijuana, $1,840 in cash, a Chevrolet pickup truck and a motorcycle after a high-speed chase from the Dressen area in Harlan to Baxter.
Arrested were Steve Click, 55, of Elcomb, and Charles Johnny Gilbert, 59, of Baxter.
“We received a call about people dealing drugs in different business parking lots during the day when there is a lot of people there and they can blend in,” said Sheriff Marvin Lipfird. “We have had some teams running surveillance on different parking lots when on Thursday, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Det Danny Ball and Det. Sgt. Jason Snelling were at the Sav-a-Lot parking lot in Harlan where they witnessed what they believed to be a drug deal going down. After identifying themselves and showing the suspects their credentials, Det. Snelling approached the driver side of the vehicle. Det. Snelling told the passenger, Steve Click, to exit the vehicle and, as he was opening the door, the driver, Charles Johnny Gilbert, pulled out abruptly nearly running over top of Det. Snelling and Det. Ball.”
After a high speed chase, Lipfird said Gilbert traveled to his residence on Naillon Lane in Baxter. When the vehicle was stopped, both suspects were apprehended and placed under arrest. Lipfird said Click made an attempt to swallow suspected morphine pills. He said illegal drugs were found on both of the suspects.
“A search was conducted on the residence owned by Gilbert. After a consent to search was obtained, a large quantity of marijuana and a large quantity of illegal pills were found,” said Lipfird. “We also found $1,840 in cash and confiscated a Chevrolet pickup truck and a motorcycle we believe were purchased with money used from drug trafficking because neither men have gainful employment.”
Gilbert was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, first-degree fleeing or evading a police officer and first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer. Click was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree fleeing or evading a police officer, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer and tampering with physical evidence.
Both were lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.
Harlan Police Officer Jeff Owens assisted with the high speed chase of the suspects.
Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com
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