ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsHale Co. Animal Shelter raided; director faces drug charges

    ABC 33/40 has learned Greensboro Police have arrested and filed drug charges on the director of Hale County's Animal Shelter.

    Chief Willie Hudson says they raided the facility last week after multiple reports the shelter which is located next to the Hale County Jail - was becoming a popular place to buy illegal narcotics.

   "We received a tip that drug deals were going on there openly...and that's what we found, "said Hudson.

    Director Kernan Sullins faces two counts of possessing a controlled substance and one count of possessing drug paraphernalia.   According to police reports obtained by ABC 33/40, a state prisoner assigned to work at the shelter provided police information regarding the "sale and use" of drugs at the facility.

    Hudson says the prisoner has since been returned to the State Department of Corrections.  He was provided as help through the state cattle ranch according to police documents.  Chief Hudson tells ABC 33/40 he believes the prisoner assisted in distribution of Loritab pills they found in Sullins truck at the facility and say they also found a significant amount of viagra pills well hidden in a mobile trailer owned by the shelter.

   Hudson tells ABC 33/40 that the prisoner, listed as Larry Joe Jordan was in possession of a debit card with a $17,000 balance on it at the time of the raid.  It's unclear why Jordan had the card and who provided it.  According the Alabama Department of Corrections website, Jordan is not scheduled to be released until 2024, however it doesn't state why he is incarcerated.

   Greensboro investigators say information provided by Jordan lead them to search Sullins home in Moundville where they say they found a hefty amount of prescription medication labeled with the names of other individuals who do not reside with Sullins.

  Police also say they found about 40 syringes partially filled with Ketamine.  Ketamine is an anesthetic or animals typically used to put them down.  But, it's often abused in small doses by humans in both liquid and powder form.  Chief Hudson says he believes Sullins was selling and using the drug.  "It was already in syringes with just the right amount for human consumption at his residence.," added Hudson.

  Sullins bonded out of jail on a total bond of $11,500.

  Investigators say the drug investigation has lead them to now question how funds are utilized at the animal shelter.

  Neither Sullins or the Shelters finance trustee, Betsy Rogers returned repeated calls from ABC 33/40.  While at the Greensboro Police Department, Rogers called Chief Hudson and referred all questions to her attorney Robert Spence in Tuscaloosa.