Ky. Chief Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges
Source The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
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Sept. 15--LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. -- "Just Another Bait Shop" on Ky. 192, 10 miles west of London, proved to offer more than just bait -- and landed its owner, 38-year-old Anthony "Tony" Slusher, in jail for trafficking marijuana on Monday afternoon.
At the time of his arrest, Slusher was chief of the Bald Rock Volunteer Fire Department.
The arrest occurred around 2 p.m. after an investigation indicated that marijuana was being sold through the store by the owner/operator, Anthony Slusher.
Though Slusher denied any knowledge of the charges at the time of his arrest, the Laurel County Sheriff's Office found a quantity of marijuana inside the store.
He was charged with trafficking marijuana less than eight ounces, first offense, and taken to the Laurel County Detention Center. At press time Tuesday, Slusher remained in Laurel Detention Center and was scheduled for an arraignment hearing in Laurel District Court today, Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Laurel Sheriff's Detective Billy Madden is heading the investigation. He was assisted at the scene by Sheriff John Root, Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore, Sgt. Rodney Van Zant, Det. Brad Mitchell, Deputy Jason Back, Deputy Greg Turner, Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement Officer Landry Collett.
The Bald Rock Volunteer Fire Department had a scheduled meeting on Monday night, reportedly to elect officers for the department. Calls to the Bald Rock Fire Department on Monday night were met with "We have no comment." No information was available on whether Slusher was re-elected as chief.
Ronnie Bales, president of the Alliance of Laurel County Fire Departments, also had no comment on the situation and had no information on the outcome of Bald Rock Fire Department's meeting.
Tommy Johnston, Chief of the Laurel County Volunteer Fire Department, said the standard procedure for county fire departments is to submit an application and agree to a background check. Persons with a felony conviction are not eligible to serve on the fire department, but Johnston said that the charges against Slusher -- trafficking marijuana less than eight ounces -- was a misdemeanor offense. In that instance, Slusher could still remain as chief of the Bald Rock Fire Department and/or still serve as a volunteer firefighter and under Kentucky law, Slusher is assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Johnston said that most volunteer fire departments operate with a board of directors who review situations such as the one involving Slusher. He said the State Fire Commissioner may have the determining word in such situations; however, calls to the state office were not returned by press time Tuesday.
