VANCEBURG — A two-month operation by the Vanceburg Police Department has led to the arrest of 29 people on drug-related charges.

The VPD launched “Operation Spring Clean” in an effort to eradicate the narcotic issue in the city of Vanceburg and across Lewis County, officials said. Police Chief Joe Billman said the operation has been nine months in the making, along with months of investigations and undercover buys from alleged drug dealers.

“The end goal is to cut down on narcotics in Vanceburg and Lewis County,” Billman said. “We’re trying to do our part.”

While he is aware that this operation will not outright eliminate drug activity from the community, Billman said this operation has done a great deal in apprehending some of the major drug peddlers in the area.

“I think it was a great success for Vanceburg and Lewis County both,” he said. “When you read the warrants, you’ll find a lot of troublesome folks — ones that have been dealing for a long time that we haven’t been able to get before.”

Efforts by the VPD, including numerous trafficking in a stops, searches of residences, and execution of warrants, have led to the arrest of:

— Kennedale Hedge, 34, 1295 Manely Hollow Road, Vanceburg, possession controlled substance (unspecified), DUI, criminal trespass.

— David Boggs 52, 330 Front Street, Vanceburg, possession controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Christopher Durham 28, 519 Main Street, Glencoe, Ala., possession controlled substance (heroin), possession controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession controlled substance (drug unspecified).

— Robin Thurman 35, 2986 Rock Run Road, Vanceburg, possession controlled substance (drug unspecified), possession of marijuana, DUI.

— Doug Wagner 44, 330 Front Street, Vanceburg, possession controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Jamie Dryer 41, 330 Front Street, Vanceburg, possession controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— John Grigson 24, 106 Applegate Lane, Garrison, possession controlled substance (methamphetamine), DUI, endangering the welfare of a minor.

— Lloyd Ginn 54, 139 Brackman Hollow Road, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (hydrocodone).

— Mathew Willis, 43, 44 Brooks Lane, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— David Lightner, 58, 3193 Clarksburg Road, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Travis Lightner, 33, 3179 Clarksburg Road, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Joseph Monteith, 33, 810 Andrew Mason Road, Tollesboro, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— April Lightner, 31, 3179 Clarksburg Rd. Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Joel Dunigan, 44, 909 West Kentucky 8, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— Justin Cooper, 35, 53 Fairlane Dr. Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— Jonathan West, 37, 315 Beachy Creek Rd. South Shore, possession controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Jeremy Mcadams, 40, 146 Brewer Lane, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Chris Young, 34, Garrison, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— Jackie Blevins, 47, Fingerboard Road, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— James Burriss, 38, Sandy Lane, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— Jeffrey Johnson, 30, 33 Ison Lane, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Amy Carrington, 38, Green Street Apts., Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— Ernest Howard, 45, Echo Hills Apts., Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— Autumn Blevins, 33, Fingerboard Road, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Jamey Presley, 34, 300 Criqueside Drive, Morehead, trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

— Terry Knell, 32, 10750 Kentucky 344, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Britany Wagner, 27, 1470 Billchain Road, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Jason Kamer 44, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

— Shawn Tylor Johnson 26, Vanceburg, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

Investigations are still ongoing and are expected to lead to additional arrests, police said.

The Vanceburg City Police Department encourages anyone with information on drug activity or illegal activity to contact the police department at 606-796-2111 or call 911, where you may remain anonymous.

Billman said he is grateful for his fellow officers of the police department, as well as retired Officer Mike Ginn for the time spent and paperwork done toward this operation and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, which was instrumental with many of the arrests.

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Jonathan Wright

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