LONDON – A Laurel County man who had evaded apprehension for 18 months was captured this week as a result of tips given to police.

Chris Gilkey, 41, was arrested at his home on West Highway 1376 in East Bernstadt on Wednesday, July 23, by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office and detectives from Operation UNITE. He faces a charge of unlawful possession of methamphetamine precursors.

The Sheriff’s Office also arrested Gilkey’s wife, 52-year-old Dianna Gilkey, on a charge of obstructing governmental operations by trying to prevent law enforcement officers from entering the doorway to the residence.

Gilkey was among 26 individuals sought in an Operation UNITE drug roundup conducted in January 2007, but he had managed to avoid police.

Shortly after the roundup Gilkey’s name was added to the UNITE “Most Wanted” website page. Recent calls to the UNITE Drug Tip Hotline (1-866-424-4382) and to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office alerted authorities to his return home.

For more information about Operation UNITE visit their website at www.operationunite.org.

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In 2003, Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-Somerset) worked to create Operation UNITE, a regional anti-drug initiative empowering citizens groups and community leaders in 29 southern and eastern Kentucky counties. UNITE, which stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education, seeks to fight the drug epidemic by expanding drug awareness and education programs to keep people from using drugs; coordinating drug treatment and outreach programs for those who are already addicted; and operating regional undercover law enforcement task forces for interdiction and prosecution of those dealing drugs. Rogers has directed $36.6 million in federal funds to the counter-drug initiative over the past five years. For more information contact Karen Engle toll-free at 1-866-678-6483.

Drug Tip Hotline – 1-866-424-4382 / Treatment Referral Hotline – 1-866-90-UNITE (1-866-908-6483)