An update from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office:

 

Sheriff Bobby Jones reports on Wednesday February 15, 2023, two Pulaski County residents were arrested following a traffic stop.

 

The incident began when Detectives with the Narcotics Division and the Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force, were conducting surveillance on known drug traffickers. Detective Tan Hudson was clearing the scene of a traffic stop and observed a vehicle pass his location, operated by one of the suspected traffickers. Detective Hudson pulled out behind the vehicle on Bourne Avenue. The vehicle then drove at a high rate of speed, in an attempt to elude police. The vehicle turned on Walnut Avenue, Hall Street, and finally Eckstein Street, where Detective Hudson was able to catch up to the vehicle, when the vehicle came to a dead end.

 

Detective Hudson removed the occupants of the vehicle, Derrick Lewis Johnson age 35, of Somerset and Samantha Newsome, age 27, of Somerset. When Johnson was removed, he threw a container, scattering pills in the driveway of a residence.  

 

Once other Law Enforcement arrived on scene, a search of the vehicle was conducted where approximately 3.4 grams of Fentanyl, approximately ½ gram of methamphetamine, and 18 Xanax. Both occupants had outstanding warrants and were arrested on the scene and transported to the Pulaski County Detention Center.

Following the traffic stop, a search warrant was issued for Johnson’s residence. Upon searching Johnson’s residence, Detectives located approximately 14 grams of Fentanyl, approximately 1 gram of methamphetamine, baggies, and digital scales.

 

Derrick Lewis Johnson was arrested and charged with the following:

1. Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st Offense (Fentanyl)
2. Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st Degree 1St Offense (< 2 grams) methamphetamine
3. Trafficking in Controlled Substance 3rd Degree 1st Offense (<20 D.U.)
4. Fleeing or Evading Police, 2nd Degree (Motor Vehicle)
5. No Registration Plates
6. Operating on Suspended or Revoked License
7. Drug Paraphernalia – Buy/Possess
8. Failure to or Improper Signal
9. Reckless Driving
10. Pulaski County District Court Warrant for Failure to Appear
11. Pulaski County District Court Warrant for Failure to Appear
12. Pulaski County District Court Warrant for Contempt
13. Pulaski County District Court Warrant for Contempt

 

Samantha Newsome was arrested and charged with the following:

1. Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st Offense (Fentanyl)
2. Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st Degree 1St Offense (< 2 grams) methamphetamine
3. Drug Paraphernalia – Buy/Possess
4. Lincoln County Circuit Court warrant for Contempt