To: All News Agencies

From: Detective Jesse Riddle

Date: 06-01-07

Re: A deputy's stop to offer assistance leads to multiple arrest

On 06-01-07 at approximately 20:06hrs Deputy Steve Croft observed a vehicle that appeared to be broken down occuppied by three individuals east bound on Interstate 24 at the seven (7) mile marker. Deputy Croft pulled over to check on the vehicle and its occupants. Upon contact with the driver Billy J. Travis Jr., Deputy Croft immediately noticed nervous behavior while speaking to Travis. Travis stated that he had pulled over to see if his lights were still working. Deputy Croft found this to be odd because it was still daylight at the time. Based on the nervous behavior Deputy Croft asked for consent to search the vehicle and it's occupants. Underneath a passenger's (Tracey M. Diehl) seat Croft located a crack cocaine smoking pipe that contained cocaine residue and thirty (30) white pills inside plastic baggy, that were later identified as 2mg doses of Klonopin. Diehl claimed ownership of the crack pipe and pills. Deputy Croft called for assistance from Paducah Police officer Rob Hefner and his drug sniffing partner Ronnie (K-9) thinking there might still be items hidden in the car he couldn't locate. Hefner and Ronnie arrived on scene and assisted Croft in a detailed search of the vehicle. Ronnie alerted to hidden compartment underneath the dashboard of the vehicle that contained a plastic baggy of marijuana and rolling papers. After the drug sniffing K-9 located the marijuana in the hidden compartment Travis claimed ownership of the marijuana, later he praised the K-9 (Ronnie) for locating the marijuana stating that it was hidden good and that he thought it would not be found. Tammy Spann, a passenger in the vehicle appeared to be under influence of illegal drugs and later admitted to smoking crack cocaine just prior to the stop she was arrested for public intoxication. Billy J. Travis Jr. and his two passengers, Tammy R. Spann and Tracey M. Diehl were arrested and transported to the McCracken County Jail. Billy J. Travis Jr. was on parole at the time of his arrest for firearm enhanced cocaine possession and Tammy R. Spann was also on felony probation at the time she was arrested for prior cocaine possession convictions. Lone Oak police department assisted in this investigation.

Arrested: Billy J. Travis Jr.

Date of Birth: 06-26-1965

Address: 1504 Joe Creason Drive Benton, Ky 42025

Charges: Possession of marijuana and 2nd offense possession of drug paraphernalia

Arrested: Tracey M. Diehl

Date of Birth: 10-12-1967

Address: 457 Walnut Road Boaz, Ky 42027

Charges: Possession of a 1st degree controlled substance-cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a 3rd degree controlled substance-Klonopin, and prescription controlled not in a proper container

Arrested: Tammy R. Spann

Date of Birth: 05-27-1966

Address: 1410 Oaks Road Paducah, Ky 42003

Charges: Public intoxication

End of release

Detective Jesse Riddle

McCracken County Sheriff Department Drug Division