Three Owensboro men were arrested early Monday morning on multiple drug-related charges after police responding to a firearm discharge uncovered a large quantity of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to police reports. According to the Owensboro Police Department, more than 5,000 suspected fentanyl pills were discovered.
(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information on a third person charged in the incident.)
Max C. Bellamy, 20, and Justin K. Bellamy, 21, and Blane Noffsinger, 20, were taken into custody at approximately 7:15 a.m. on March 10 at an apartment on Alexander Avenue.
According to the arrest reports from the Owensboro Police Department, officers arrived at the residence at approximately 2:12 a.m. about a firearm discharge. Upon arrival, officers were given consent by a resident to enter and retrieve the firearm, the reports say.
During their initial search, officers observed four blue pills with the imprint “M30” in plain view, which they suspected contained fentanyl, according to the reports. A further search of the residence revealed a firearm inside a kitchen cabinet, the reports state.
Based on their findings, officers secured a search warrant for the residence. A subsequent search led to the discovery of a “Nike bag containing a large amount of round blue pills with the imprint ‘M30,’ suspected to contain fentanyl,” along with drug paraphernalia, the reports state.
According to the arrest report for Max Bellamy, officers also observed “a zip lock baggy containing a crystalline substance, lying on the floor of the front passenger side” of his vehicle. Upon securing a search warrant and searching the vehicle, officers recovered a “knotted baggy” with several of the round blue pills with the imprint “M30,” as well as a “knotted baggy” containing suspected methamphetamine and several individual plastic bags “commonly used to distribute narcotics.”
According to the report, Max Bellamy advised officers that the firearm belonged to him and that he accidentally discharged it. Both men stated that they did not know anything about the drugs that were found, according to the reports.
While officers were investigating the drug-related evidence, Noffsinger — who was among those detained in the residence — initially appeared responsive and conversed with officers, according to the arrest report. However, after a search warrant was obtained, officers noticed a decline in his responsiveness, the report says. According to the arrest report, Noffsinger’s speech became slurred and he was visibly impaired.
During a search of Noffsinger, officers found a small plastic bag that “appeared to have been torn from a bite,” the report says. Based on their observations, officers believed Noffsinger swallowed suspected drugs in an attempt to avoid evidence being used against him in an official proceeding, the report states. Officers were unable to retrieve the suspected drugs.
All three men were charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives, enhancement) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Max Bellamy and Noffsinger was additionally charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (2 grams or more of methamphetamine).
All three men were transported to the Daviess County Detention Center following their arrests. Court records show they are both scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.
