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Debbie Caldwell

Editor

Kentucky State Police Trooper Tyson Lawson took the position of narcotics detective around the first of September for the Bell County area and says he plans on “putting a dent” in the illegal drug activity.

Through an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal drug activity at a residence in Pineville, Lawson said he made a significant arrest on Wednesday by seizing over 400 pills believed to have come from Mexico.

Lawson arrested Joseph King, 29, after a search warrant was executed at his residence.

“I have received several complaints of possible illegal drug activity at that residence, and was able to gain enough information to obtain a search warrant,” Lawson said.

Troopers Roy Pace, Keith Baker and Don Perry accompanied Lawson to the residence to assist in the search.

Lawson said he discovered 423 Xanax (Upjohn 90s) in the residence, which is believed to have made their way to Bell County from Mexico. He said this type of pill is not made in the United States.

“He couldn’t have obtained these from a doctor in the United States,” Lawson said. “When we found these they were in several sandwich baggies inside the sandwich baggy box, so that is another reason he was charged with trafficking the pills.”

According to Lawson, they also confiscated a Suboxone strip and various other pills. He said some of the pills were a tablet form of prescription marijuana.

“Mr. King didn’t have any prescriptions for the drugs that were confiscated,” Lawson said.

King was charged with two counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance, one count of third-degree trafficking a controlled substance and illegal possession of a legend drug.

He was lodged in the Bell County Detention Center and has since be released on bond.