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Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

The Evarts City Police Department conducted a drug roundup on Friday resulting in the arrest of 14 individuals.

According to a press release, the arrests were a result of a lengthy investigation.

“At 6 a.m. the department began serving 33 arrest warrants obtained from the drug operation. Several months ago we received complaints about a high level of drug activity in our area. One vehicle was confiscated during the roundup,” Noe stated.

The release noted 24 drug-related warrants were served and several individuals with E-warrants were also arrested.

Evarts officers involved in the roundup were Evarts Police Chief Lupe Blas, assistant chief Owen Noe and officers John Teagle and William Clogston. Five warrants were also served in the Harlan area with Harlan City Police Officer Will Pope and Cpl. Jeff Owens assisting.

The following individuals, all of Evarts, were arrested on a charge of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance: Jesse Farley, 23, Cody Farley, 24, Albert Farley, 33, Amanda Ray, 22, Mervin Weedman, 46, and Brennen Hughes, 21;

* Billy Shipman, 53, of Evarts, was charged with first-degree trafficking a controlled substance;

* Lawrence Smith, 37, of Evarts, was charged with first-degree trafficking a controlled substance;

* Rachel Ledford, 25, of Evarts, was charged with first-degree trafficking a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana;

* Matthew Shoemaker, 25, of Evarts, was charged with second-degree trafficking and persistent felony offender;

* Vernon Wallace, 60, Evarts, was charged with first- and second-degree trafficking a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia;

* Shelia Wallace, 51, of Evarts, was charged with two counts of first- and second-degree trafficking a controlled substance;

* Christopher Lindsey, 28, was charged with three counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana;

* Brennen Hughes, 21, of Evarts, was charged with two counts second-degree trafficking a controlled substance;

* Stewart Cochran, 51, of Evarts, was charged with second-degree trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a radio that sends and or receives police messages and persistent felony offender.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com