Two Face Charges In Drug Bust

Two people are facing drug charges after a joint investigation resulted in the seizure of a car, a small amount of cash, and some drugs.  The Brownsville City Police and the Edmonson County Sheriff's Dept., working on information received this past week, made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was suspected to be dealing in illegal drugs.  Deputy Wally Ritter and Officer Nathan Dennis stopped an orange Pontiac Grand Am and found Laura Westfall, 37 of Segal, and Steven Phelps, 31 of Bowling Green.  After noticing several items connected to drug activity, the officers conducted a search of the vehicle and found suspected methamphetamine and suspected "Spice", a synthetic drug having the appearance of marijuana.  Both suspects were charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Trafficking Controlled Substance within 1000 yards of a school, due to the proximity to three different schools in the city of Brownsville.  They were lodged in the Hart County Jail.
 

Cash, suspected synthetic drug "spice," suspected meth, other drug paraphernalia and Pontiac Grand Am, confiscated by police during arrest last night. (submitted by Edmonson Co Sheriff's Dept.)

Steven Phelps, 31, Bowling Green (Hart Co. Jail)

Laura Westfall, 37, of Segal (Hart Co. Jail)

Police Chief Ricky Sanders and Sheriff-Elect Shane Doyle issued this joint statement:  "The fight against illegal drugs is one that all of our local agencies take very seriously.  We know that cooperation between our agencies is a key to being successful.  We look forward to many years of cooperation and we want all of Edmonson County and Brownsville to know that we will not stop trying to make our community safer for the next generation.  Too many times, politics and in-fighting results in strained relationships between jurisdictions, but the safety and security of our residence is more important than politics.  We will work together with each other and with the community to be as effective as we can be."
 
The Sheriff's department also warned parents to be watching for "spice", which is a street name for a designer synthetic drug.  It can range from green to brownish, is a leafy consistency, and may have a "potpourri" smell.  People have been known to have severe reactions to the drug, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, partial paralysis, and has even hospitalized some.