On Saturday night, June 17, 2023 at 11:48 p.m., Chief Deputy Brandon Hitch and Deputy Emily Wall took Andrew Saunders, 28, of Barbourville into custody after an investigation. Earlier in that day, the sheriffs office received a call of a gas drive-off at Highway 206 Country Mart. Later in the evening, the vehicle was spotted off KY 206 about 4 miles east of Columbia.
Upon contact and investigation, Saunders was found to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance and was in possession of a quantity of meth, marijuana, counterfeit money and drug paraphernalia. It was also found that the 2010 Cadillac he was operating had been stolen from a Walmart parking lot in London, KY on Saturday morning.
Saunders was placed into custody and lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail on the following charges:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance 1st degree (methamphetamine)
- Receiving stolen property over $10,000
- Possession of marijuana
- Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Theft of gasoline
- Driving on a DUI suspended license &
- Possession of a forged instrument (counterfeit money).
Chief Deputy Brandon Hitch was the arresting officer. He was assisted by Deputy Emily Wall and Officer Justin Cross.
