Knox County, Ky Sheriff's Department

06/08/2026

KNOX COUNTY KY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE

On Monday, June 8, 2026, at approximately 1:15 pm Knox County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a male subject setting wildfires in the Moore Hill area of Corbin. Knox County Sheriff Mike Smith and two deputies responded to the area in an attempt to locate the suspect.

Sheriff Mike Smith located the suspect, 26-year-old Jacob Belew of Corbin, KY, hiding in the woods behind his residence on Right Fork East Creek Road. West Knox Fire Department had also responded to the fires.

The firemen advised they had extinguished five (5) fires from KY 1232 to Right Fork East Creek Road.

Jacob Belew was charged with five (5) counts of Willful Set Fire on Land Not Owned/Controlled by Self and lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.

KSP Trooper Kelly Farris assisted in the search.

06/08/2026

KNOX COUNTY KY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, June 8, 2026

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, at approximately 11:50 am Knox County Deputy David Dunn responded to a report of two small children without adult supervision on KY 3439 south of Barbourville. There were also three swimming pools located in the immediate area of the toddlers ages two (2) and three (3) years old.

During the investigation, Deputy Dunn learned that the father, Jeremiah Grubb was asleep and the lock on the door was broken. The mother of the children was at work.

23-year-old Jeremiah Grubb of Barbourville, KY was arrested and charged with two counts of Endangering Welfare of a Minor. He was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.

The Department of Child Services and Knox EMS also responded to the residence. The two children were released to a family member after being checked by EMS personnel.

06/01/2026

KNOX COUNTY KY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, June 1, 2026

Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputies have been assisting Moline Illinois Police Department Detectives throughout their investigation into a child po*******hy case involving a Corbin man.

Knox County Deputies have been conducting interviews, executing a search warrant, securing and forwarding evidence to the Moline Police Department investigators.

After reviewing the evidence, a fugitive warrant was obtained by the Moline Police Detectives in Rock Island County Illinois charging the Corbin man with ten (10) counts of child po*******hy.

On Thursday, May 28, 2026, Knox County Deputies arrested 18-year-old Kameron Adams of Corbin, KY on the Illinois Fugitive Warrant for ten (10) counts of Child Po*******hy. He was was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to Rock Island County, Illinois.

05/25/2026

For those who served and sacrificed all.

05/23/2026

KNOX COUNTY KY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Saturday, May 23, 2026

On Friday, May 22, 2026, at approximately 9:55pm, Knox County Deputies were dispatched to South KY 233 in the Gray community in regard to a fatal collision. The preliminary investigation determined that a vehicle struck an individual on the roadway.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased by the Knox County coroner. The identity of the individual is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Barbourville Police Department is assisting with the onging investigation.

Also responding was the West Knox Fire Department and Knox County EMS.

05/19/2026

Knox County Ky Sheriff's Department
Press Release:
Monday, May 18, 2026

On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Knox County Deputies responded to a complaint of two small children outside in the neighborhood unattended on Caldwell Street in Corbin.

When the deputies arrived they made contact with a two (2) year old male child, naked from the waist down, and a four (4) year old female child. The children lead the deputies to their residence where contact was made with the parents. The deputies also observed three (3) dogs inside the residence with no food or water provided for them.

Animal f***s and urine were scattered throughout the residence. A glass pipe commonly used to smoke Methamphetamine was also visible.

Michael W. Flannery age 27 of Corbin, KY., was arrested and charged with two (2) counts of Endangering Welfare of a Minor, three (3) counts of Cruelty to Animals-2nd Degree, Confinement and Control of Female Dog in Heat and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Angellea C. Irvin age 33 of Corbin, KY., was arrested and charged with two (2) counts of Endangering Welfare of a Minor, three (3) counts of Cruelty to Animals-2nd Degree and Confinement and Control of Female Dog in Heat.

Frances Rose age 42 of Manchester KY., also present and grandmother to the children, was arrested on a Lee County Bench Warrant for failure to appear on Possession of Controlled Substance-1st Degree/Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges.

Michael Flannery, Angellea Irvin, and Francis Rose were lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.

Deputies also caused Department of Child Services, Knox County Animal Control Officer and Knox EMS to respond to the location.

The two (2) children were released to a family member after being checked by EMS personnel.

05/13/2026

05/12/2026

Glad to partner with local depts and officials for our Deputies to attend this Autism training.

This training highlights communication and understanding.Thank you to all that participated.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17MyXDPtB2/

Chief Adam Townsley reports, on May 12, 2026 the Barbourville Police Department alongside the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Mayor David Thompson, Knox County Detention Center, Barbourville Fire Department, Knox County Attorney Gilbert Holland, Barbourville Street Department, and Kentucky Department of Community Based Services received training from the Kentucky Autism Training Center.

The purpose of the training was to sharpen local first responders' ability to identify characteristics of Autism while learning ways of professionally communicating and understanding the Autism community.

This important training helps ensure our officers are better equipped to serve individuals with autism and their families with understanding, compassion, and professionalism. All agencies involved remain committed to building stronger relationships and providing the best possible service to Knox County and the City of Barbourville.

05/11/2026

We take this time to honor those who have gone before us and served their communities selflessly and with respect. We remember their service and committment.

05/11/2026

Knox County Ky. Sheriff's Department
Press Release:
Monday, May 11, 2026

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Knox County Deputies stopped a vehicle on KY 6 in Gray. After checking the driver’s operators license status through Knox Dispatch, the deputies learned his license was suspended.

29-year-old Dylan Vaughn of Heidrick, KY was arrested and charged with Operating on Suspended or Revoked Operators License.

Deputies located a pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and a plastic bag containing suspected crystal methamphetamine on his person. Another plastic bag of suspected methamphetamine was located inside the vehicle along with a larger black bag containing a white powdery substance, which Dylan Vaughn identified as table salt, and a set of digital scales were inside the bag.

Dylan Vaughn was then charged with Possession of Controlled Substance-1st Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Trafficking in a Misrepresented Controlled Substance.

Dylan Vaughn was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.