Three men arrested in Paducah on meth charges | Crime

PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) - The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says a multi-agency drug investigation has led to the arrests of three men Monday afternoon on meth-related charges.

Colby P. Mitchell, 31, of Murray, Ky. was arrested and charged with first degree meth trafficking, second offense in excess of 2 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Steven D. Gipson, Jr., 34, of Benton, Ky. was arrested and charged with first offense meth trafficking in excess of 2 grams.

Howard T. Whyte, 42, of Dexter, Ky. was arrested and charged with first offense meth trafficking in excess of 2 grams.

Detectives with the sheriff's department began investigation after information alleging that Steven Gipson, Jr. of Benton, Ky. was involved in the sale of meth. As part of the investigation, detectives arranged to meet Gipson on Monday, Feb. 13 in Paducah at a gas station on Alben Barkley Drive to buy meth.

They say through the investigation, they learned that Gipson and another man, Whyte, would be meeting their meth source before the deal. Through surveillance, detectives saw two men, Gipson and Whyte, drive to the parking lot of the school on Alben Barkley Drive and meet another man, Colby Mitchell. Detectives say it appeared the men did a hand to hand through the truck window and then all three drove to the gas station parking lot for a drug transaction. After the transaction was finished, detectives arrested all three at 2:19 p.m.

According to the sheriff's department, an investigation revealed that Mitchell had supplied Whyte and Gipson with meth to sell to detectives. When detectives searched the truck Gipson and Whyte were in, they found more meth and money that was believed to be proceeds from meth sales.

Detectives seized several hundred dollars off of Mitchell that was believed to be proceeds of illegal drug sales. During a search of Mitchell's 2002 Chevy Tahoe, detectives say they found about 60 grams of crystal meth packaged for sale and a meth smoking pipe concealed in void in the truck. The sheriff's department says the seized meth has an estimated street value of $6,000.

Also on Monday, at about 7 p.m., detectives with the Murray Police Department, Kentucky State Police and the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at Mitchell's home in Murray. During the search, detectives say they found a .45 caliber semi automatic handgun and a small quantity of marijuana.

According to the sheriff's department, Mitchell is a convicted felon from a prior meth trafficking offense and not allowed to own guns.

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