PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Brian K. Cochran, a former police officer himself, commended the efforts of the Princeton Police Department on the largest drug bust in the department’s history.
“The Princeton Police Officers really do a great job every day, and especially on this particular day,” said Cochran of the arrest, which is part of a larger ongoing effort to eliminate drug trafficking from local communities.
“We are all working hard and together as a team on getting to all of them, and we really appreciate our police officers’ work in getting after them as well.”
According to the Princeton Police Department, on the evening of Thursday, October 12, 2023, Sr. Patrolman D. Gibson and Patrolman T.D. Cook initiated an investigative traffic stop on a black Cadillac Escalade on WV Rt. 104 (Rogers Street) in Princeton, WV for an equipment violation.
A drug investigation ensued over the course of the investigation, with the vehicle in question having been subject to a probable cause search.
Upon initiation of the search, large amounts of suspected methamphetamine and US currency were discovered. Information was obtained through the search of the vehicle which led the investigating officers to a set of storage units.
Positive indication provided by Princeton Police Department K-9 unit Patrolman Z.A. Jones and K-9 Kilo led Sr. Patrolman D. Gibson to obtain a search warrant for several of the units in question.
The execution of the search warrant resulted in the seizure of an array of items and substances including: 7.16 POUNDS of suspected methamphetamine, 5.5 POUNDS of suspected fentanyl, 800+ suspected hydromorphone pills, 885 grams of suspected marijuana, 55 suspected suboxone strips, +/- another 1,400 suspected scheduled pills, approximately $24,000 in US currency, 7 seized handguns (2 of those stolen), and 1 seized Cadillac Escalade.
Authorities report that Hope Walters of Princeton was arrested on numerous counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a controlled substance as a result of this incident.
“The Princeton Police Department did a great job on getting to Hope Walters, and they are getting after more than just her. She’s been in our sights for a while, as are many others,” said Prosecuting Attorney for Mercer County Brian Cochran of the arrest.
“Walters and those like her need to understand that we aren’t going to quit getting after them and we aren’t going away, but eventually, they will be. These people are wasting their lives for a relatively short time of living the good life but it’s going to come to a very bad ending for all of them in time.”
Cochran further stated, “I hope all drug dealers know that my office and our state police, our sheriff’s department, drug task force, surrounding county’s officers and our local law enforcement officers detest drug dealers, and the destruction they impose on our families, children, and communities. We are all cooperating with each other and coordinating with each other and with federal officials as we speak, and we aren’t going to stop getting after each and every one of them.”
Praising the efforts of local law enforcement, Cochran noted the value in contributions from members of the local community in bringing an end to localized and statewide drug activity, telling LOOTPRESS, “I would encourage our citizens to reach out to their local law enforcement office if they suspect any drug activity in our community because it is very helpful.”
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage for the Mercer County area can be found here.