The Evarts Police Department made nine arrests Thursday morning after more than a dozen indictments were handed down by a Harlan County Grand Jury on charges including drug trafficking, burglary and arson.

Chief Lupe Blas, assistant chief Mike Lunsford and officers Owen Noe and Charles Bailey conducted the early-morning roundup, arresting residents of Evarts, Lejunior, Ages and Closplint.

Two were arrested for separate alleged acts of arson in the city of Evarts, including Billy J. Madden, 23, of Evarts, for first-degree arson and three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

According to Lunsford, it is alleged that Madden set fire to a mattress in the yard of a Lewis Street home in June. There were three people in the residence when it caught fire. One of the residents was on oxygen, according to Lunsford, resulting in the three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

The arrest was a result of an ongoing investigation between the police chief and Evarts Fire Department Chief David McGill.

In a separate arson case, Jerri Wynn, 41, of Evarts, was charged with first-degree arson and first-degree wanton endangerment after she allegedly set fire to a bundle of clothes next to a McCoy Street home in May in an attempt to set the home on fire.

Lunsford said the owner of the home, who had been in several arguments with the accused, witnessed Wynn running from the home before smelling smoke and discovering the fire.

Other arrests made include: Samuel J. Pace, 26, of Evarts, for second-degree trafficking of a controlled substance; Billy L. Jones, 26, of Lejunior, for first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana; Brian Robbins, 30, Lejunior, for first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; Rachel Brock, 23, of Evarts, for first-degree trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking a controlled substance within 1,000 yards from a school and possession of drug paraphernalia; Chris Coker, 38, of Closplint, for second-degree burglary; Donald E. Brock, 22, of Evarts, for operating a motor vehicle under the influence fourth offense, driving under the influence on a suspended license (second offense) and first-degree failure of owner to maintain required insurance; and Homer David Blevins, 68, of Ages, for second-degree trafficking a controlled substance and failure to wear a seat belt.

All were lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.