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October 8, 2009

K9 unit pursues blood trail

Leads Williamsburg police to ‘substantial amount’ of meth

By Adam S. Sulfridge / Staff Writer

Around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Williamsburg’s K9 unit followed a trail of blood leading from Brush Arbor apartments into the nearby woods where police say they found a man and a “substantial amount” of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Whitley 911 dispatch received a call from a resident of Brush Arbor apartments saying that a man had cut his own wrist and was chasing a female through the woods with a large kitchen knife. According to neighbors, the male and female had been romantically involved.

Williamsburg Chief of Police Wayne Bird secured the scene and after he obtained a description of the suspects from witnesses, other officers created a perimeter to prevent his escape.

Large blood splatters across the parking lot pointed police in the right direction, but the trail of blood became hard to see after the suspect fled across a grassy area and into the woods. Williamsburg K9 Officer Brandon Prewitt and his partner “Rico” began tracking the suspect and immediately located him and the female subject.

The suspect, 41-year-old Joey Siler, was not armed when police found him, and the female subject allegedly told police she had disposed of the large knife. He was, however, in possession of a backpack full of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Siler was bleeding due to a large laceration on his wrist and was treated by Whitley County EMS at the scene. Chief Bird transported Siler to Baptist Regional Medical Center for further treatment, and after being released from the hospital, he was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Siler is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, domestic violence, first-degree wanton endangerment, and first-degree fleeing or evading.

The unnamed female was also taken into custody, but police say no charges were filed against her.

While police were still investigating the area, Joey Siler’s younger brother, Gregory Siler, approached officers. After being ordered to stay away from the scene, Gregory Siler approached officers again. According to Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson, Gregory Siler “caused public alarm” through his noncompliance, and he was taken into custody after alleged drug paraphernalia fell from his pocket. Police say Gregory Siler dropped a spoon with burn marks on it, which is a common instrument used by drug users.

Gregory Siler was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“We were very familiar with the subjects,” said Officer Jackson. “We had received numerous reports from residents of the Brush Arbor community about the residence where this incident occurred, and we’re confident this will lead to further information.” He added that the incident is an ongoing investigation

“It’s a bit ironic that we had just finished K9 training when this call came in,” Officer Jackson said. “Rico was ready to go, and it shows the K9 is a great asset to this police department… he tracked right to the subject and possibly prevented something much worse from happening.”

Chief Wayne Bird and Detective Bobby Freeman are continuing the investigation and were assisted at the scene by K9 Officer Brandon Prewitt, Assistant Chief Rick Mosley, Lieutenant Jason Caddell, Officers Jim Pool and Brandon White, and Kentucky State Police Trooper K.Y. Fuson.

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