Franklin man charged with drug trafficking near Russellville school

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. – A Franklin man is charged with drug trafficking near a school.

According to a uniform citation, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office located two individuals who had an active domestic violence order in Logan County on Tuesday.

A deputy conducted a traffic stop on Peyton Street in Russellville on Lorenzo Barnett, 47 of Franklin. Barnett attempted to exit the vehicle.

The deputy asked Barnett and the female passenger told the officer they were in the process of getting the DVO dropped.

Barnett was taken into custody due to a violation of the order.

The deputy says Barnett was transported to the Logan County Jail. When Barnett exited the vehicle, the deputy located suspected methamphetamine on the seat and floorboard. Barnett allegedly told the deputy he did not know where the suspected methamphetamine came from.

The sheriff’s office says the video surveillance of the back seat shows Barnett removing a clear baggie containing a white substance from his pants and attempting to hide it. The baggie spilled onto the backseat. Barnett then attempted to hide the baggie between the seat cushion and the trunk.

The baggie contained 18 grams of suspected methamphetamine. The sheriff’s office believes Barnett is trafficking the substance. The evidence was logged and will be sent to the Kentucky State Police Laboratory for testing.

The traffic stop was conducted 760 feet from Russellville Head Start.

Barnett is charged with violating a Kentucky EPO/DVO, trafficking a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree possession of a controlled substance third or more offense (methamphetamine), and first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance first-offense (> or = 2 grams of methamphetamine).

Barnett is lodged at the Logan County Jail.