Sheriff Bobby Jones reported the arrest of three people following an ongoing Narcotics Division investigation into suspected drug trafficking.[1] Deputy Noah Dishman stopped a blue Chevrolet Equinox on Highway 461 on 27 September 2026.[1] The driver was 37-year-old James Carrender of Burnside, and the back-seat passengers were 38-year-old Joseph Meeks and 34-year-old Mindy Meeks, both of Somerset.[1]
During the stop Deputy Noah Dishman smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, and Sgt. Dylan West’s K-9 Rocky alerted to narcotics.[1] A search of the vehicle found multiple bags of suspected marijuana, suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.[1] Mindy Meeks told deputies she had narcotics in her clothing and produced bags containing suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl.[1] James Carrender was charged with trafficking in marijuana of less than eight ounces as a first offence.[1] Joseph Meeks and Mindy Meeks were each charged with the same marijuana trafficking count.[1] Both charge lists include a drug paraphernalia buy or possess count.[1] Both charge lists include first-degree trafficking involving methamphetamine of two grams or greater.[1] Both charge lists include first-degree possession involving fentanyl.[1] Carrender was additionally charged with having no operator’s licence and failing to have a licence in possession.[1]
All three were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.[1] Dishman was assisted by West and K-9 Rocky, deputies Daniel Drury and Noah Wesley, Kentucky State Police Trooper Ben Allen and the FBI.[1] The case remained under investigation by Dishman.[1]
