In a significant drug bust on Highway 33, Claiborne County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) deputies charged three individuals after locating a substantial amount of narcotics during a routine traffic stop. According to CCSO, five pounds of methamphetamine, alongside quantities of cocaine, mushrooms, and three handguns, were recovered from the vehicle.
WVLT reported that detectives initiated the stop just north of Lone Mountain Road based on information provided by an Automated License Plate Reader (APLR) indicating the car belonged to a person with outstanding felony warrants. The APLR technology, which offers real-time data on vehicular activities, directly contributed to the arrests. CCSO's K-9 Kira was deployed, and the dog alerted officers to narcotics, leading to a thorough search of the car.
The detainees include 27-year-old Katelyn Boatright from Middlesboro, Kentucky, 22-year-old Bryson Hatfield from Middlesboro, Kentucky, and 21-year-old Braden Greer from Tazewell. A detailed list of charges against the individuals suggests a serious undertone of criminal activity, with each facing multiple heavy counts tied to drug possession, paraphernalia, and illegal firearms possession.
Authorities announced Boatright's arrest on a warrant, charging her with possession of methamphetamine for resale exceeding 2,000 grams and several other drug and firearms-related offenses, as detailed in the social media post from the Claiborne County Sheriff's Office. Hatfield and Greer face a similar range of charges, with Hatfield also penalized for driving-related offenses amid the possession of methamphetamine. Notably, both sources emphasize the weight of the methamphetamine seized, an indicator of the gravity of the situation.
"After a subsequent search Detectives recovered approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine from inside the vehicle as well as a quantity of cocaine, mushrooms and 3 handguns," as per Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office. The firearms discovered elevate the charges to include possession of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony. Both Hatfield and Greer were slapped with multiple counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, highlighting the recurring theme of recidivism bedeviling the area's law enforcement efforts.
