Stolen Vehicle & Drugs, Two Arrested

By Jessie Williams 

Two individuals were arrested by Macon County deputies last week, after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a stolen vehicle, drugs and drug paraphernalia. 

According to local authorities, Deputy Clinton Friar was on patrol on Green Grove Rd. last Saturday, January 22, when he observed a Honda Civic with the wrong license plate.

After initiating a traffic stop, the officer called in the vehicle’s VIN number and discovered it was reported stolen out of Scottsville, Kentucky. 

The male and female subjects inside the car were asked if they had anything illegal, at which time the female stated there was marijuana in the vehicle. 

After receiving consent to search the car, Officer Friar and other deputies at the scene found approximately 15.1 grams of marijuana in the vehicle, digital scales containing a white residue, a pill grinder and a glass pipe with residue and burn marks on it.

The female was identified as 31-year-old Amber Cardwell, of Westmoreland, and the male was identified as 38-year-old Kenneth Banks, of Scottsville, KY. 

Cardwell and Banks were arrested and transported to the Macon County Jail for booking. 

During the booking process, Cardwell was found to have a pill bottle on her person that contained a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana, and 10 Hydrocodone pills. 

She was charged with theft of property, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession (2 counts), introduction of drugs into a county institution, license plate displayed on wrong vehicle and financial responsibility violation. Her bond was set at $11,000, and she is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on April 20, 2022. 

Mr. Banks was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,500.

The stolen vehicle was towed to the Macon County Sheriffs Office for further investigation, and the owner was notified.

“I would like to applaud the officers in this case for their roles in getting drugs off our streets and locating stolen property,” said Macon County Sheriff Mark Gammons. 

The sheriff asks that anyone with information regarding illegal activity and/or stolen property to contact his department. Callers can remain anonymous.