An investigation by the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force conducted after a Honda Odyssey minivan was found stripped in the middle of Sunbeam Road has led to the arrest of four people on vehicle theft, drug trafficking and possession charges.
The investigation began when Grayson County Sgt. Fred Norder was dispatched Saturday afternoon at about 5:00 to investigate the remains of a maroon Honda minivan that had been left in the middle of Sunbeam Road.
During his investigation, Norder observed that the Honda’s vehicle identification number (VIN), located on the front part of the dashboard and visible through the windshield, had been “drilled out,” according to the arrest citation. Norder, though, located the Honda’s VIN on the body of the vehicle and discovered the van was reported stolen out of Jefferson County.
In talking with several witnesses from the area, Norder learned the van had been towed to Sunbeam Road by a “white over gray Ford Explorer.” The witnesses told the sergeant the van had been “resting on the bumper hitch of the Explorer and was secured only by ratchet straps,” the citation states. Norder located a broken ratchet strap near the stripped minivan.
Upon further investigation, which included collaboration with the Leitchfield Police Department, Norder was led to a residence at 123 Maple Drive, off Sunbeam Road. Upon arriving at the Maple Drive address, Norder saw a Ford Explorer matching the description of the vehicle that was pulling the stolen Honda.
As Norder inspected the Explorer, parked in the driveway only a few feet from the roadway, he noticed the Ford “had maroon paint transfer on the rear of the vehicle and a broken ratchet strap.” Norder also discovered the vehicle was reported stolen.
Additionally, the entire Honda Odyssey engine, transmission and front suspension were located on the ground directly in front of the Explorer, in the driveway of 123 Maple Drive.
Norder made contact with the Maple Drive resident, 36-year-old Randall Coates, who told Norder he bought the Honda from 25-year-old Coty D. Leslie, of Clarkson, who delivered the vehicle, in pieces, to Coates’ Maple Drive home.
Police then obtained a search warrant for the Maple Drive property, which contained nearly 30 vehicles and multiple car parts.
Several law enforcement officers from different agencies participated in searching the Maple Drive property, including Norder, the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, Deputy Jason Luedke, Leitchfield PD Officer Chance Anthony, Clarkson PD Officer Blake Elmore, and Constable Mark Stanton.
During the search, police seized six vehicles for evidence and multiple car parts with destroyed VIN numbers. Some of the vehicles’ VINs had also been completely removed.
Coates was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of a VIN number, failure to register the transfer of a motor vehicle, selling or receiving a vehicle with a removed or altered VIN, abandonment of a vehicle on a public roadway, transfer of a motor vehicle without a bill of sale, improper display of registration plates, and harassment (no physical contact).
Based on information culled from the Maple Drive investigation, on Tuesday just after noon, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, Clarkson Police Chief Buck Meredith and Officer Rick Clemons executed a search warrant at 218 Old Leitchfield Road where authorities arrested Leslie.
He was charged with receiving stolen property, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of a VIN number, selling or receiving vehicle with removed or altered VIN, abandonment of a vehicle on a public road, and transfer of a motor vehicle without a bill of sale.
Also arrested at the Old Leitchfield Road location was 24-year-old Troy Blair, of Clarkson, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) after police found meth in his possession. This arrest marks at least the fifth time Blair has been arrested on drug and other charges in the last 21 months.
After the Old Leitchfield Road arrests, and following further investigation by the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, a search warrant was obtained and executed Tuesday afternoon at the residence at 19 Hathaway Trail, in the Ambassador Shores area of Anneta. There, police discovered large amounts of methamphetamine, a marijuana grow operation, weapons, and pills.
Authorities arrested 71-year-old Melvin Napper, of Anneta, and charged him with trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in marijuana, cultivating marijuana (five plants or more), and acquiring property from income related to trafficking in a controlled substance. Additional charges are possible.
All four suspects were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.
(Headline photos left to right Randall Coates and Coty Leslie)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
