News
Fugitive nabbed in Benson tied to largest
 |
| Angela Crisp Clarkston |
prescription drug trafficking case in Kentucky
Chris Dabovich/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
A Kentucky woman authorities allege fled their jurisdiction in connection with that state's largest sweep of prescription drug trafficking was arrested last week in Benson.
Cochise County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Angela Crisp Clarkston Oct. 28 at home in the 100 block of Calle Tortuga, confirmed sheriff's office spokeswoman Carol Capas.
The felony warrant out of Boyd County in eastern Kentucky names Angela Crisp [Clarkston] as a fugitive from justice on an original charge of trafficking in a controlled substance, said Capas. She said Kentucky State Police requested the sheriff's office assistance in checking the Calle Tortuga residence for her whereabouts.
Kentucky authorities allege Crisp Clarkston, 29, was arrested as part of a massive multi-agency investigation unprecedented in magnitude, said Lt. David Jude of the Kentucky State Police.
"Operation Flamingo Road" is the culmination of a three-year effort, involving multiple law enforcement agencies and initiated by Kentucky State Police and the FBI, said Jude.
"Preliminary numbers from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics confirmed that 877 deaths in the Comnonwealth were attributed to prescription drug overdoses last year," said KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer in a prepared news release.
Crisp [Clarkston] was among 518 suspects named in arrest warrants whom authorities began rounding up last week.
Police allege those arrested would drive to other states, mostly Florida, and purchase prescription drugs they would then sell at profit in Kentucky.
One federal indictment in the investigation charges 14 people with scheming to bring oxycodone and methadone into eastern Kentucky from Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
Oxycodone, an opiate derivative is highly addictive and is described as as "synthetic heroine." Methadone is a narcotic used commonly to help ween addicts off heroin. Both are considered dangerous and can cause death when used inappropriately.
Lt. Jude could not explain the extent of Crisp Clarkston's involvement.
He said a common public and dealer misconception is that it's alright or not as serious as trafficking in the more illicit street drugs because they're pharmaceutical and obtainable by prescription.
"That's one of the barriers we face as law enforcement," said Jude. "They're drug dealers. By making these arrests we're telling the public that we've heard you," he said, explaining authorities targeted "dealers" and not users.
Chris Dabovich/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
A Kentucky woman authorities allege fled their jurisdiction in connection with that state's largest sweep of prescription drug trafficking was arrested last week in Benson.
Cochise County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Angela Crisp Clarkston Oct. 28 at home in the 100 block of Calle Tortuga, confirmed sheriff's office spokeswoman Carol Capas.
The felony warrant out of Boyd County in eastern Kentucky names Angela Crisp [Clarkston] as a fugitive from justice on an original charge of trafficking in a controlled substance, said Capas. She said Kentucky State Police requested the sheriff's office assistance in checking the Calle Tortuga residence for her whereabouts.
Kentucky authorities allege Crisp Clarkston, 29, was arrested as part of a massive multi-agency investigation unprecedented in magnitude, said Lt. David Jude of the Kentucky State Police.
"Operation Flamingo Road" is the culmination of a three-year effort, involving multiple law enforcement agencies and initiated by Kentucky State Police and the FBI, said Jude.
"Preliminary numbers from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics confirmed that 877 deaths in the Comnonwealth were attributed to prescription drug overdoses last year," said KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer in a prepared news release.
Crisp [Clarkston] was among 518 suspects named in arrest warrants whom authorities began rounding up last week.
Police allege those arrested would drive to other states, mostly Florida, and purchase prescription drugs they would then sell at profit in Kentucky.
One federal indictment in the investigation charges 14 people with scheming to bring oxycodone and methadone into eastern Kentucky from Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
Oxycodone, an opiate derivative is highly addictive and is described as as "synthetic heroine." Methadone is a narcotic used commonly to help ween addicts off heroin. Both are considered dangerous and can cause death when used inappropriately.
Lt. Jude could not explain the extent of Crisp Clarkston's involvement.
He said a common public and dealer misconception is that it's alright or not as serious as trafficking in the more illicit street drugs because they're pharmaceutical and obtainable by prescription.
"That's one of the barriers we face as law enforcement," said Jude. "They're drug dealers. By making these arrests we're telling the public that we've heard you," he said, explaining authorities targeted "dealers" and not users.
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