A man has been arrested on multiple drug trafficking and theft charges after a botched attempt to steal a motorcycle on Lilac Road.
Saturday night at approximately 11:15, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Zane Greer and Deputy Rick Mehlbauer responded to what was originally called in to Central Dispatch as a motorcycle crash in the 3400 of Lilac Road. Upon arriving at the scene, though, law enforcement learned two men had attempted to steal a Kawasaki Ninja from a residence.
A witness told Greer and Mehlbauer that as he was traveling on Lilac Road he observed what he thought was a motorcycle crash. When the witness stopped to ask if he could help, the man with the motorcycle, 42-year-old Jeremy Payment, of Breckinridge County (formerly of Grayson Co.), told the witness a friend was coming to pick him up.
Within a short time, Payment’s friend, 33-year-old Aaron S. Breeden, of Shepherdsville (formerly of Breckinridge Co.), arrived in a Ford F150 truck, picked up Payment and the two men left the area without the motorcycle, which, according to police, Payment twice crashed as he was pushing it from the residence.
Greer then informed the Leitchfield Police Department to be on the lookout for dark colored Ford F150 truck containing two men. LDP Officer DJ Newton responded that he had just observed a dark colored Ford F150 truck at Five Star, at the intersection of South Main Street and West White Oak Street.
Police converged on the area, with Newton spotting the truck traveling north on North Main Street. He executed a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 200 block of North Main just as Greer, Mehlbauer, LPD Sgt. Keith Harrell and Officer Chance Anthony arrived on the scene.
Upon approaching the vehicle, a strong odor of marijuana was detected, as police detained the suspects and searched the truck. During that search, authorities found a firearm, over nine grams of methamphetamine, over a dozen hydrocodone pills, marijuana, syringes, and scales.
While being questioned, Payment, a felon, admitted that the drugs, handgun and drug paraphernalia were his.
Authorities also located a ramp, allegedly intended to aid in loading the motorcycle into the back of the truck.
Payment was arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (meth, opiates), two counts of possession of a controlled substance (meth, opiates), having a prescription controlled substance not in its proper container, trafficking in marijuana, theft by unlawful taking, criminal mischief, DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Payment’s drug charges are enhanced by the presence of the handgun.
Breeden, also a felon, was arrested and charged with his second DUI (aggravating circumstances) and driving on a suspended/revoked license, with additional charges possible.
Both suspects were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
(Headline photo l-r: Jeremy Payment, LPD Sgt. Keith Harrell, GCSO Sgt. Zane Greer and LPD Officers Chance Anthony and DJ Newton questioning Aaron S. Breeden)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
