Three Grayson County residents have been arrested on felony drug charges after one law enforcement agency provided a tip to another.
Thursday afternoon at approximately 4:30, Clarkson Police Officer Blake Elmore notified Grayson County Deputy Andy Vincent that he had been told that a subject was stopped in the middle of Hardin Springs Road, in Big Clifty, changing a license plate on a 2002 Ford Windstar, according to the arrest citation.
Vincent arrived in the area and executed a traffic stop on the vehicle in the parking lot of B&J Market, at 11209 Elizabethtown Road. Through an investigation, the citation says Vincent discovered the license plate the driver, 21-year-old Clay A. Akridge, of Leitchfield, placed on the minivan was for a 1997 Toyota.
Akridge admitted to placing the plate on the Ford as it did not have a license plate.
Further investigation showed that Akridge was driving on a DUI suspended license.
Vincent then made contact with one of the passengers and owner of the Ford, 45-year-old Larel D. Powell, of Clarkson, who gave consent to search the minivan.
According to the citation, while searching the Ford, deputies located methamphetamine in a handbag, a makeup kit and a pack of cigarettes. Police also found marijuana inside the vehicle.
As the search continued, police located a meth pipe in the vehicle and a loaded syringe containing suspected methamphetamine in Powell’s pants pocket. Also found on Powell was a blank check and a signed $2,000 check. Police determined the checks belonged to Powell’s mother, the citation says.
Akridge, Powell and a third occupant of the minivan, 37-year-old Fallon L. Meredith, of Clarkson, denied knowledge of the drugs.
The three suspects were arrested and lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
Once arriving at the jail, detention center staff found a pill bottle containing multiple pills, including Gabapentin, on Meredith.
All three suspects were charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Akridge was also charged with driving on a DUI suspended license and improper registration plate. Powell was additionally charged with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, while Meredith was also charged with promoting contraband, possession of a prescription controlled substance not in its proper container and possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified).
Assisting Vincent at the scene were Grayson County Sgt. Zane Greer, Deputy Sean Fentress and Elmore.
(Headline photo: Clay A. Akridge)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
