PIKEVILLE – Hundreds of prescription pills, cash and a rifle were confiscated following the execution of a search warrant in the Shelbiana community on March 26.
Operation UNITE charged 47-year-old Patricia Hopkins with one count each of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, and third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
The arrest followed an investigation that began earlier this month after information was passed along from other agencies that an unusually high volume of cars were reported to be coming to and from the residence.
“While officers were outside the home many citizens drove by to wave, blow their horns, and give us a thumbs-up,” said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for UNITE. “They seemed to be very excited that we had taken care of a problem.”
Smoot said Hopkins is believed to have been selling drugs in the community for about two years.
During the investigation detectives were able to purchase drugs from Hopkins and developed enough information to obtain the search warrant.
UNITE detectives, Kentucky State Police Trooper Jim Anderson, and K-9 Officer Bo Cure went to Hopkins’ residence on Greasy Creek Road, located just southeast of Pikeville, about 11 a.m. Friday.
Inside the home officers located an assortment of 668 pills with a street value of more than $5,000. In all there were 10 varieties of drugs including OxyContin, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Lortab, Xanax, Percocet and Suboxone.
“The drugs were located in a variety of spots within the home,” Smoot said. “Most were in baggies or assorted pill containers, and none were legally prescribed to Ms. Hopkins.”
Police also confiscated $1,410 in cash and a .22-caliber rifle.
“This is an example that information from citizens really does pay off,” Smoot said, adding that more than 1,600 drug tips had been reported to UNITE’s toll-free tip line (1-866-424-4382) from Pike residents – the second most in the Fifth Congressional District – since 2004.
Hopkins was lodged in the Pike County Detention Center.