Bell County Ky Sheriff's Department

10/18/2026

BELL COUNTY KY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Saturday, October 17, 2026

On Friday morning, October 16, 2026, Bell County Sgt. Jody Risner was following 45-year-old Nathan Clouse on his ATV in the Weiser Branch area. The sergeant initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle due to erratic driving. After consenting to a search and during the process, Clouse jumped off the ATV, fleeing the scene on foot.

During the incident, Clouse left behind a backpack on the ATV. Joined by Deputy Brad Dye, Sgt. Risner found Ma*****na in a baggie and (10) ten pills believed to be the controlled substance Gabapentin inside the backpack.

Later that same day, Sgt. Risner responded to a call about Clouse being seen in an outbuilding not belonging to him on KY 66. Upon making contact with Clouse, officers determined he had an outstanding warrant and arrested him.

A search incident to arrest revealed that Clouse had a clear plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be Methamphetamine, two more bags containing several unknown pills, a sublingual strip, a baggie of Ma*****na, and cash.

Upon arriving at the Bell County Detention Center, Detective Hunter Luttrell observed Clouse to have a gray, flaky, powdery residue believed to be fentanyl on his hands. He attempted to conceal the substance by pushing it into the fold of the cruiser’s seat.

During the booking process, Clouse was found to have a clear bag containing what is believed to be Ma*****na.

He was lodged in the Bell County Detention Center, charged with fleeing or evading police – 2nd degree (on foot), possession of Ma*****na, possession of a controlled substance 3rd offense – drug unspecified, trafficking in controlled substance greater than ten dosage units – drug unspecified, possession of controlled substance (Methamphetamine), burglary, public intoxication – controlled substance (excluding alcohol), wanton endangerment – 2nd degree – police officer, and promoting contraband – 1st degree.

10/02/2026

The Bell County Sheriff's Department was proud to assist in the apprehension of this individual.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Pineville Police Department (PPD) responded to a call for service regarding a deceased person in the 300 Block of George Martin Drive, Pineville, KY 40977.

Upon arrival, PPD Officers, and the Bell County Coroner’s Office determined that the deceased person, identified as 41-year-old April (Barlow) Celio, was a victim of a homicide.

On Thursday, September 24, 2026, information was developed that Barlow was also pregnant at the time of death, and, according to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, there was no fetus in the victim’s womb. While processing the scene, PPD, Bell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), and Kentucky State Police (KSP) were able to recover what investigators and medical examiners believed to be fetal remains.

The investigation continued, and investigators were able to identify a suspect, DeMarcus Kenneth Johnson-Wright, who had an extensive violent criminal history and several outstanding violent felony warrants out of Tennessee.

On Friday, September 25, 2026, the Bell County District Court issued warrants for Johnson-Wright for Robbery - 1st Degree and Kidnapping – Adult. On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Bell County District Court then issued more warrants for Murder – Domestic Violence and Tampering With Physical Evidence. At that time, PPD and BCSO requested the assistance of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force (CKFTF) - London Office.

On that same day, information was developed that Johnson-Wright was residing on the 200 Block of Timber Court Drive, Clarksville, Tennessee. USMS CKFTF requested assistance from USMS Middle Tennessee Fugitive Task Force (MTFTF) – Nashville Office, the Clarksville Police Department (CPD) Special Operations Unit (SOU), and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) K-9 Unit. At or around 11:00 PM CST, USMS MTFTF, CKFTF, CPD SOU, and MCSO arrested Johnson-Wright at that location and transported him to the CPD SOU Office for an interview with BCSO and USMS investigators.

A subsequent search warrant was applied for and granted for that residence, and materials relating to the case were recovered. DeMarcus Kenneth Johnson-Wright was booked into the Montgomery County Detention Center in Tennessee, where he will await extradition back to Kentucky.

Also assisting during the initial incident were Bell County EMS and the Pineville Fire Department.

Officer Patrick Brooks is in charge of this ongoing investigation.

09/29/2026

We join our brothers and sisters in mourning the loss of Kentucky State Police Post 3 Trooper Hayden Phillips - Unit 369.

The void Trooper Phillips leaves behind can never be filled with mere words. We pray for his family and co-workers at this difficult time.

09/16/2026

Shared from The Big One page. We thank them for the story.

Written by Travis Moody

A Middlesboro teenager has delivered another round of comfort backpacks – this time to the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.

Thirteen–year–old Aubree Blakley from Yellow Creek School brought the latest set of packs to Sheriff Mitch Williams as part of her project, “Kind Kids, Helping Hearts.”

The backpacks are filled with a stuffed animal, books, a snack, juice, a toy, sensory toys, crayons, and a handwritten note so kids know someone cares. Deputies can give them to children they meet during difficult calls.

This second group was paid for entirely by the money Aubree raised selling cookies under the name “Aubree’s Cookies for Kids.”

Sheriff Williams says the packs give his deputies something meaningful to offer.

Donations of new stuffed animals, new or slightly used backpacks, and cash can be dropped off at Yellow Creek School or right here at the Big One 106.3.

Aubree plans to keep the project growing and hopes more students will join her soon.

09/12/2026

BELL COUNTY KY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Saturday, September 12, 2026

In connection with an on-going Bell/Harlan case involving the arrest of 69-year-old Darrell Carnahan out of Harlan County for multiple s*x and drug offenses, engaging in organized crime, and human trafficking offense, another individual has been apprehended regarding an additional case related to these charges.

The case stems from an investigation into the death of a key witness against Carnahan, his brother Bobby Smith. Smith was found deceased in late August.

While four other individuals have been arrested in connection with Smith's death and an additional arrest dealing with the original s*x offenses case, a sixth person, 22-year-old Hailey Gilbert of Corbin, was arrested by Corbin Police Friday, September 11, 2026 on a Bell County warrant for complicity to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Hailey Gilbert is lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.

09/11/2026

BELL COUNTY KY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, September 10, 2026

On Monday, September 7, 2026 at 3:27 a.m., Bell County Deputies responded to a stabbing call at an Old Mocking Bird Lane residence in the Fourmile community. While enroute, Deputy Chris Owens along with Pineville Officer Samson Churchwell were advised there was a man suffering from a stab wound at Pineville Community Health Center. Detective Hunter Luttrell and Deputy Keith Fuson went to the residence to make contact with the victim’s live-in girlfriend, identified as 33-year-old Heather Partin of Pineville.

Deputy Owens and Officer Churchwell advised from PCHC that the victim and his live-in girlfriend had been arguing and “a demon stabbed him.” He added that Partin “gets drunk and acts crazy.”

Owens and Churchwell then joined the other deputies at the residence making entry to an open door where they saw blood. After calling out to the occupants without response, they made their way into the home, finding more blood in the hallway and the knife in question. Heather Partin was then found breathing, but not responsive in the back bedroom.

A small child was found under the covers. Also in the home was another child and elderly woman who later corroborated the statements of the victim.

Partin was read her rights after being subdued, then arrested, and exhibiting signs of heavy intoxication. She admitted to the officers that she stabbed the victim, but “she didn’t mean to kill him.” She also claimed she “threw” the knife at the victim, but evidence at the scene determined otherwise.

The victim was transported to UT Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but at last check he was stable. DCBS was also notified regarding the welfare of the children at the home.

Heather Partin was lodged in the Bell County Detention Center charged with assault – 1st degree – domestic violence, wanton endangerment – 1st degree, endangering the welfare of a minor, and failure to notify an address change to the department of transportation.

09/07/2026

SCAM ALERT

Multiple complaints have been made about "Pretrial" calling people in Bell County and asking family members of inmates at the Bell County Detention Center for bail bond money. The caller requests that money be paid over the phone.

For the record, this is not the way our pretrial court procedures or bail protocols work.

Please do not fall for this scam. If you feel you have been a victim of this scam, please call our dispatch at 606-337-6174 to make a report.

09/07/2026

Published according to the law.

09/03/2026

BELL COUNTY KY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and Wednesday, the 2nd, in coordination with a multi-agency operation, Bell County Detective Hunter Luttrell carried out several arrests in connection with the death of a man, Bobby Smith, whose brother, Darrell Carnahan, was arrested in July for multiple s*x offenses. Prior to this, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, United States Marshal Service personnel apprehended Landon Pace.

At around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, Harlan County Sheriff’s Sgt. Caleb Carmical, Deputy Jesse Howard, and Loyall PD Officer Ben Pace responded to a residence to serve three warrants while conducting a joint federal investigation in the Loyall community. After making entry into the residence, all three subjects were located.

An investigation revealed that Carnahan had contacted Tonya Monroe, Cody Pace, and Landon Pace from the Bell County Detention Center, where he has been housed since his arrest. Carnahan asked the trio to reach out to witnesses and change their testimony against him.

Bobby Smith, with power of attorney for his brother, was a key witness against Carnahan in the s*x trafficking case and was found deceased in Harlan the last week of August. Smith was not complying with requests to send money for bills and commissary for Carnahan at the jail.

Monroe and the Pace brothers had moved into Carnahan’s residence after he was arrested.

Through monitored jail text messages, investigators were able to establish the three had benefited financially and residentially from the death of Bobby Smith.

It has been determined that all three destroyed evidence by burning it. They also concealed a cellular phone and deleted content regarding drug-related digital evidence about a third party. Tonya Monroe was found in possession of Smith’s food and debit card, and it was determined that the text messages reflect a direct monetary gain from Bobby’s Smith’s death.

While investigators have not disclosed the contents of evidence recovered during the ex*****on of the search warrant, they believe what was found directly relates to the charges.

Another woman, Star Halcolmb, was charged with tampering with physical evidence.

In connection with this case, also arrested Wednesday morning was 31-year-old Joseph Jackson of Bell County with similar charges as Carnahan: human trafficking – commercial s*x activity and engaging in organized crime.

Cody Pace, Landon Pace, and Starr Holcomb were lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center, while Tonya Monroe was moved to the Bell County Detention Center. Joseph Jackson was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

Landon Pace and Cody Pace have been charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, intimidating a witness in the legal process, and tampering with a witness.

Tonya Monroe has been charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, intimidating a witness in the legal process, tampering with a witness, theft - receipt of stolen debit card, fraudulent use of a credit card $1,000 < $10,000, and wanton abuse/neglect of adult by a person.

Star Halcomb has been charged with intimidating a witness in the legal process and tampering with a witness.

The United States Marshal Service Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force led the apprehension, assisted by all local represented agencies.

08/28/2026

Sheriff Williams is asking the public for help in identifying the individuals in the pictures who were trespassing on private property in the Kettle Island area.

If you have information to share, please call Bell County Dispatch at 606-337-6174 or send a private message to this page. All information will be kept confidential.