Press Release

To: All News Agencies

From: Detective Jesse Riddle

Date: 03-31-07

Re: Drug arrest

On 03-30-07 at approximately 19:09 detectives with the McCracken County Sheriff Department were on the parking lot at 501 Lone Oak Road preparing to execute a search warrant at a near by residence. While sitting on the parking lot detectives observed a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria registered to Roy T. Morris pull onto the lot. Detectives observed the vehicle circle the lot and pull into a parking spot and then move a short time later to another area on the parking lot. Detectives became suspicious and called for assistance from Deputy Sheriff Eddie Mcguire who was driving a marked patrol car. While speaking to Deputy Mcguire on the phone detectives observed another individual pull on the parking lot in a 1992 GMC pickup truck registered to Timothy D. Ritchie. Detectives then observed the GMC pickup pull up next to the Ford Crown Victoria that had been acting suspicous. The driver of the pickup (Timothy D. Ritchie) exited the truck and leaned into the window of the Crown Victoria and detectives observed a hand to hand transaction between the individuals. Deputy Mcguire was just arriving as the transaction took place and stopped the Crown Victoria driven by Roy T. Morris while detectives conducted a stop on the other vehicle (GMC pickup) driven by Timothy D. Ritche. Once detectives made contact with Ritche he admitted to purchasing an amount of crack cocaine for $100 from Roy T. Morris the driver of the other vehicle that had been stopped by Deputy Mcguire. Detectives then recovered the cocaine from inside the driver side door pocket of Richtie's pickup truck. Deputy Mcguire placed Roy T. Morris under arrest and located the $100 that Ritchie had paid Morris for the cocaine on another passenger in Morris's Vehicle who stated that Morris gave him the money to hold as police pulled in behind him to stop his vehicle. Morris later admitted to selling the cocaine. Both vehicles were seized by the McCracken County Sheriff Department. Roy T. Morris and Timothy D. Ritchie were both arrested and transported to the McCracken County Regional Jail.

Arrested: Roy T. Morris

Date of birth: 09-17-1988

Address: Fountain Avenue Paducah, Ky 42001

Charges: Trafficking in a controlled substance 1st degree-cocaine

Arrested: Timothy D. Ritchie

Date of birth: 05-31-71

Address: Wood River, IL 62095

Charges: Possession of a 1st degree controlled substance-cocaine

End of release

Detective Jesse Riddle