The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office arrested five people last week in McCracken County during Methamphetamine trafficking investigations. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and Paducah DEA. In all detectives seized 8.5lbs of Crystal Methamphetamine and approximately $30,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
On 06/17/2021 at approximately 3pm, as part of a drug investigation detectives conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 34-year-old Sylvia Pricilla Fiers of McCracken County. Fiers was stopped on Olivet Church Road in McCracken County. During the stop a Sheriff’s Office K-9 indicated to the presence of illegal drugs coming from the vehicle. Detectives searched the vehicle and located 3.5lbs of Crystal Methamphetamine and over $5,000 in suspected drug proceeds. Fiers was arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail.
As the investigation continued into the evening detectives conducted surveillance on a McCracken County Hotel located at 2960 Husbands Road. Detectives located and arrested 49-year-old Jose Luis Lopez of Denver, Colorado at the hotel. A search warrant was executed on Lopez’s hotel room and vehicle. During a search of the hotel room detectives located two additional pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine. Detectives then searched Lopez’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle detectives located an additional two pounds of Methamphetamine concealed in a door panel. A fabricated hidden compartment was located under the rear seat of the vehicle. Detectives located over $20,000 in suspected drug proceeds hidden in the compartment.
On 06/18/2021 detectives conducted another drug investigation. Detectives learned that 44-year-old Kristopher Johnson of Louisville was selling large amounts of Crystal Methamphetamine in Western KY. Detectives contacted Johnson utilizing a cooperating witness. Johnson agreed to sale one pound of Crystal Methamphetamine. Through surveillance detectives observed Johnson and two other men arrive a Paducah hotel located at 5135 Cairo Road. Johnson delivered the Methamphetamine while the other two men acted as lookouts for Johnson. All three were arrested. The other men were identified as 45-year-old Demetrius Coatley of Louisville and 30-year-old Kyle Bratcher of Louisville. Detectives recovered the pound of Methamphetamine that Johnson sold to the cooperating witness along with additional Methamphetamine concealed in a false drink can inside the vehicle. Johnson was also found in possession of $4500 that was believed to be proceeds of illegal drug sales.
Kristopher Johnson has an extensive criminal history including a conviction for murder out Graves County, KY in 2000. Johnson also has prior convictions for robbery, possession of handgun by a convicted felon and trafficking in Methamphetamine. Johnson was also out on bond at the time of this arrest for a May 2021 arrest in Breckenridge County KY for trafficking in Methamphetamine.
All five individuals were lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail where they remain.
Methamphetamine is typically sold by the gram. If sold by the gram the seized Methamphetamine in these cases has an estimated street value in excess of $380,000.
Arrested: Sylvia “Pricilla” Fiers 34 of McCracken County
Charges: Trafficking in Methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and no registration plates
Arrested: Jose Luis Lopez 49 of Denver, Colorado
Charges: Trafficking in Methamphetamine
Arrested: Kristopher G. Johnson 44 of Louisville, KY
Charges: Trafficking in Methamphetamine 2nd or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia
Arrested: Demetrius D. Coatley 45 of Louisville, KY
Charges: Complicity to trafficking in Methamphetamine, possession of Marijuana and an outstanding felony warrant for child support
Arrested: Kyle F. Bratcher 30 of Louisville, KY
Charges: Complicity to trafficking in Methamphetamine
Considering some of the most recent concerns both law enforcement and community members have witnessed I would like to respectfully remind the law-abiding citizens that this is still one of the greatest places to live and raise your families. I will forever maintain that illegal drugs are connected to vast majority of all other crimes that affect us as a community. We witnessed this firsthand during a recent murder investigation that started over 1 gram of Marijuana.
They say that crime will rise to the level that a community and law enforcement will tolerate. In McCracken County, we have a zero tolerance for drug traffickers and those seeking to disrupt our peaceful lifestyles so many have grown to enjoy and expect.