Three people arrested and over 2.3 kilograms of drugs seized in drug raid

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) – Two men and one woman were arrested in connection with an undercover drug investigation in Western Kentucky.

According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, Damon L. Stigger, Eric D. McCarty and Stevie R. Tidwell are suspected of trafficking large quantities of illegal drugs in Paducah and McCracken County.

All three were arrested on Thursday, May 23, after investigators said they purchased crystal meth from McCarty and Stigger and seized drugs from an apartment where Tidwell was staying.

All three arrests took place in three different locations.

McCarty was arrested without issue. Investigators said he was in possession of approximately 224 grams of meth at the time of his arrest.

The sheriff’s office said Stigger was arrested after a short chase. A deputy allegedly used a tactic to stop Stigger’s vehicle. Upon his arrest, investigators found cocaine and money, presumably from illegal drug sales. When Stigger was searched at the McCracken County Jail, deputies found baggies of cocaine that Stigger attempted to hide in his buttocks.

According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation reveals that McCarty and Stigger sold large quantities of illegal drugs together and that a Paducah apartment was used to hide illegal drugs and money.

The apartment in question in the 400 block of Cherry Circle was searched shortly after McCarty and Stigger were arrested.

When investigators searched the apartment in question, they found Tidwell inside, along with approximately 2.5 kilograms of crystal meth, cocaine, marijuana, various drug paraphernalia and $7,980, presumably the proceeds from illegal drug sales. Tidwell was subsequently arrested.

Stigger, McCarty and Tidwell were booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail on the following charges:

Damon L. Stigger, 45 of Paducah:

• Trafficking in Controlled Substances, 1st Degree, 2nd OR > Misdemeanor – (> OR = 2 grams of methamphetamine)
• No operator license
• Ignore stop sign
• Reckless driving
• Failure to present the insurance card
• Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree – Police Officer
• First degree willful endangerment
• Missing or incorrect signal
• First degree property damage
• Resisting arrest
• Manipulation of physical evidence
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)
• Trafficking in Controlled Substances, 1st Degree, 2nd or > Misdemeanor – (> or = 4 grams of cocaine)
• Drug paraphernalia – buy/possess
• Promoting smuggling in the first degree

Eric D. McCarty, 48, of Murray, Kentucky:

• Aiding and Abetting Trafficking in Controlled Substances, 1st Degree, 2nd or > Misdemeanor – (> or = 2 grams of methamphetamine)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, 1st Degree, 3rd or > Misdemeanor (Methamphetamine)
• Drug paraphernalia – buy/possess
• Arrest warrant for unrelated probation violation

Stevie R. Tidwell, 37 of Paducah:

• Aiding and Abetting Trafficking in Controlled Substances, 1st Degree, 2nd or > Misdemeanor – (> or = 2 grams of methamphetamine)
• Aiding and Abetting Trafficking in Controlled Substances, 1st Degree, 1st Offense – (> or = 4 grams of cocaine)
• Drug paraphernalia – buy/possess
• Possession of a controlled substance, first degree felony (methamphetamine)

The sheriff’s office said more charges and arrests are likely. Narcotics agents have been conducting undercover investigations for the past two months to track down sources of illegal drugs in Western Kentucky.

Members of the Kentucky State Police, Carlisle County Sheriff’s Office and Paducah Police Department assisted in the investigation.

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