By KEVIN YOUNG
PARK CITY — A Park City man remains at large after fleeing from police while they searched for suspected methamphetamine labs near his residence.
Police are seeking Gene Calvert Johnson, 53. Johnson is described as approximately 6 feet tall and 160 pounds. He has several tattoos on both arms, including a dragon on his left forearm and a marijuana leaf and gun on his right upper arm, according to Trevor Phillips, Barren County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton said Johnson is considered armed and dangerous, and he is now at the top of the Barren County Most Wanted list.
Eaton said he has been dealing with Johnson on several occasions since joining the sheriff’s office in 1999.
“My first day in the department in 1999 I was up here on a drug complaint. I’ve been coming up here a lot of times since, and I’m sure he will be back doing it again after he gets out of prison,” he said.
The Barren-Edmonson County Drug Task Force and BCSO responded to a complaint of possible drug activity in the area of 391 Indian Mill Road around 10 a.m. Thursday. While investigating, officers observed two men in a wooded area behind the residence near Interstate 65 in northern Barren County. Once the suspects saw the officers, they began to flee on mopeds and on foot while the officers were in pursuit. The officers discovered a pair of gas tanks containing anhydrous ammonia in the area.
Police apprehended one of the suspects, Eric Ray Sturgeon, 29, and charged him with fleeing and evading police first degree, motor vehicle, fleeing and evading police first degree, on foot, three counts of first degree wanton endangerment of police and criminal mischief first degree, according to Phillips.
While approaching the residence, Eaton encountered James Edwin “Cotton” Skaggs III, 31, in a nearby shed. Skaggs then charged after Eaton with a screwdriver, Eaton said. The shed contained many illegal items in plain view, including suspected stolen property and drug paraphernalia.
Skaggs was placed under arrest and charged with public intoxication, menacing, resisting arrest, terroristic threatening third degree, possession of a controlled substance first degree, first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia first offense, according to Phillips.
The DTF and sheriff’s office received a search warrant to inspect the rest of the residence, which included several trailers, recreational vehicles and sheds on the compound. Officers recovered several pieces of drug paraphernalia and marijuana in addition to several items of suspected stolen property, including stereo systems and a large flat screen television.
Also on the property were several dogs, including some that were malnourished and one that had died some time ago but was still lying in the driveway. Officers from Glasgow-Barren Animal Control recovered six malnourished puppies, a juvenile dog and four adult dogs, a malnourished cat and a chicken, according to animal control officer Shelly Furlong. The cat and puppies did not appear to have any food or water and were contained in small cages, she said.
“I hate it,” she said. “I don’t think anybody should be able to own this many animals.”
She said the recovered animals would be transported to the animal shelter where they would be washed, given their proper shots and allowed to relax after an eventful day.
Drug Task Force officers destroyed the anhydrous ammonia tanks by shooting them with rifles. A DTF detective said it appeared that the tanks were placed in such a way that passersby along Interstate 65 could stop and go into the woods to reach the anhydrous ammonia.
A fence along the interstate was cut in two places near a pathway leading to the locations of the tanks.
Officers also discovered an elaborate video surveillance system monitoring each of the entrances to the trailer compound. One of the cameras was contained inside of a toy stuffed dolphin and another was inside of a birdhouse above the shed where Skaggs was located.
Various additional charges against both Sturgeon and Skaggs are pending the outcome of the investigation by the DTF and sheriff’s office, Eaton said.
Both subjects were lodged in the Barren County Correction Center each on a $2,500 cash bond and are scheduled to appear in Barren District Court Friday at noon.
