Franklin Co. Sheriff: Deputies are seeing more guns at crime scenes

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Sheriff Pat Melton says there has been a rise in the amount of firearms being encountered by deputies and detectives, causing an increased threat to law enforcement officials.

The Sheriff says that in the last five days, investigators have recovered three loaded firearms, one of them stolen.

According to the Sheriff, two of the guns were recovered during a search warrant operation that happened on Wednesday the 22nd, as part of an investigation into a cocaine distribution network in Frankfort.  Search warrants were served at three homes, and netted the arrests of Martinez Larry, Joseph Johnson, Krystal Griffin, and Jeremy Howard.  The Sheriff says both Larry and Johnson were in possession of loaded pistols when they were arrested.

Martinez Larry, Joseph Johnson, & Krystal Griffin (Photos Courtesy: Franklin Co. Detention Center)

Then, on Sunday, March 26th, the Sheriff says a deputy arrested Allen King, of St. Louis, after being called to the Prince Hall Village Apartments on a report of drug activity.  When the deputy arrived, the Sheriff says King was driving without headlights.  The investigating deputy discovered King had no driver’s license and had been smoking marijuana.  Upon searching the car, the Sheriff says the deputy found a loaded 9mm pistol with a 30 round magazine inserted in it.

Allen King (Photo Courtesy: Franklin Co. Detention Center)

“We want everybody to know that we are very much fighting this problem and we’ll be continuing to stay on top of our game and make sure our deputies and officers are safe as well as our community,” said Sheriff Melton.