UPDATE: March 4 at 4:30 p.m.
A wanted fugitive was taken into custody in the early morning hours Wednesday after Laurel County Sheriff's deputies used drone technology equipped with infrared cameras to track him down in a wooded area.
Laurel County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Wagers arrested Jeremy Roberts, 31, at approximately 2:42 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2026, off KY 770, approximately 10 miles south of London.
The arrest came after Deputy Robert Smith attempted a traffic stop on a dark blue Hyundai Elantra on E. City Dam Road. As the vehicle came to a stop, Roberts, who was seated in the right rear passenger seat, exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Three other individuals in the vehicle also fled but were located a short time later.
Roberts had previously fled from a traffic stop conducted Sunday night on Cumberland Gap Parkway, where deputies stopped a vehicle with no license plate. Roberts fled toward Cherry Avenue and into the woods, where he was not located at that time.
Deputies located drugs, multiple firearms, a reported stolen AR-15, and a stolen suppressor in the vehicle Roberts had fled from during the Sunday incident.
Late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, deputies developed information on Roberts' whereabouts in a wooded area off I-75 near KY 770. Deputies deployed a drone equipped with infrared technology, located Roberts, and took him into custody without incident.
Roberts was charged with no registration plates; fleeing or evading police, second-degree, on foot (two counts); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; possession of drug paraphernalia; trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree, first offense; possession of a controlled substance, first-degree, first offense; and receiving stolen property — firearm.
Three other individuals in the vehicle were also arrested and charged with fleeing or evading police, third-degree:
- 62-year-old Francis Anderson of Corbin — driver
- 26-year-old Shasta Rogers of Corbin — passenger
- 34-year-old Pamela Hatfield of Corbin — passenger
All three were lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Original Story:
The Laurel County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for help locating a suspect who allegedly fled on foot during a traffic stop in southern Laurel County.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root said Deputy Anthony Wagers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle with no license plate off Cumberland Gap Parkway at around 7 p.m. Sunday. The driver fled on foot toward Cherry Avenue during the stop and has not been located, officials reported.
Deputies reported finding drugs, multiple firearms, a reported stolen AR-15, and a reported stolen suppressor at the scene.
Deputies developed information identifying the suspect as 31-year-old Jeremy Roberts. Roberts is described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, and was last seen wearing a brown shirt, khaki shorts, and black shoes.
Warrants have been sought for fleeing and evading on foot, drug trafficking, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and convicted felon with a firearm.
Anyone with information about Roberts or his location is asked to contact the Laurel County Sheriff's Office at 606-864-6600, send a personal message to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, or email g.acciardo@laurelcountysheriff.gov. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
