HARDY, Ky. — A Pike County man found himself headed to jail on drug trafficking and other charges, after police knocked on his door and asked if they could come inside to look around.
Kentucky State Police suspected that drug trafficking was taking place at the home of 39-year-old Thomas Jervis, of Hardy, so they sent three state troopers to his house Tuesday morning for a “knock-and-talk.”
Police use a knock-and-talk to gather information when they suspect illegal activity but do not have enough evidence for a search warrant. The troopers explained to Jervis why they were there and asked if they could come inside to look around.
Once inside, they found marijuana lying in the open in his bedroom, then found a safe in his bedroom closet. They asked him to open the safe, which revealed 15 grams of meth and a set of digital scales. They next looked in a child’s bedroom, where they found another safe. The child opened the safe for them, which revealed a loaded 9mm pistol and $7,000 in cash.
Jervis claimed not to know anything about the drugs, scales or gun, but did say the cash was his.
He was arrested for meth trafficking, endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of handgun by a convicted felon and other charges.
