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April 20, 2009

Two arrested on I-75 on drug charges

By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer

A traffic stop Thursday night outside of Williamsburg led to the arrest of two Ohioans and the recovery of pills and what is believed to be a “substantial amount” of drug money.

Williamsburg K9 officer Brandon Prewitt and Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officer Landry Collett stopped a vehicle headed southbound on Interstate 75 near the 15 mile marker for speeding and improper lane change.

Officer Collett is also member of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) team, which is a national drug task force that is made up of law enforcement agencies through out the country. One of the areas HIDTA targets and performs criminal interdiction is Interstate 75.

According to police, both the driver and passenger of the vehicle appeared to be “very nervous and anxious.” After Officer Collett’s canine Ben searched a perimeter of the vehicle, Ben “alerted” officers to an area where drugs might be found. Officers searched the vehicle and found “large amounts of schedule II narcotics,” which according to Williamsburg Police Department Public Affairs officer is believed to be Oxycodone, and a “substantial amount of cash.”

Police arrested Norman A. Kuhbander Jr., 44, of New Lebanon, Ohio and Heather M. Brightman, 27, of Dayton, Ohio. They were both charged with first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.

Officer Jackson said Kuhbander and Brightman told police several different stories about their intentions with the money and drugs.

“We’re still not exactly sure what they were doing, but with the amount of drugs and money, it was clear they were involved in trafficking,” Jackson said.

Jackson said I-75 has always been a major drug corridor, which is why HIDTA has routine patrols in the area.

In addition to officer Prewitt and Collett, CVE officer Toby Curry, KSP Trooper Les Moses, Williamsburg Lt. Jason Caddell, officer Mike Taylor, Chief Wayne Bird, officer Todd Allen and Assistant Chief Rick Mosley all assisted in the investigation and at the scene. Officer Prewitt is continuing the investigation.

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