81-year-old charged with trafficking meth

LAUREL COUNTY, KY — A routine traffic safety checkpoint led to a significant drug arrest on Wednesday afternoon, March 26, 2025.

Around 1:30 p.m., members of the Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force stopped a white Ford F-150 on KY 552, approximately seven miles south of London. During the stop, a Laurel County Sheriff’s Office K-9 alerted officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered a large amount of methamphetamine concealed under the hood.

The driver, identified as 81-year-old William Harold Clontz of Spring Street in London, was taken into custody. In addition to drug charges, Clontz was found to have an outstanding warrant and was driving with a suspended license.

He has been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (first-degree, first offense, methamphetamine) along with multiple traffic violations. The outstanding Laurel District Court bench warrant against him stemmed from a failure to appear in court.

Clontz was booked into the Laurel County Correctional Center following his arrest. Authorities also seized a significant amount of cash along with the drugs.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root emphasized that drug investigations remain a priority for law enforcement in the area.

Task Force Members Involved in the Arrest:

The investigation remains ongoing.