Illinois man, Tennessee woman charged with cocaine trafficking in Paducah

An Illinois man and a Tennessee woman were arrested on Saturday in a hospital parking lot in Paducah following an investigation into cocaine trafficking.

Detectives from the McCracken and Calloway County Sheriff's Offices, with some additional help from the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, received information about the pair allegedly involved in the sale of a large amount of cocaine, and that they intended to sell it in the parking lot of Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital, just off I-24.

The suspects, 38-year-old Clarence Vaughn of Cairo and 32-year-old Lashont Harris of Lascassas, TN, were spotted in a vehicle in the hospital parking lot. As deputies approached, the two tried to flee in the vehicle but were boxed in. 

Vaughn allegedly had approximately 180 grams of cocaine on him at the time of his arrest, which reportedly was valued at around $14,000. Harris is said to have had a user amount of cocaine plus paraphernalia. The two were placed in cruisers, but during the vehicle search, Vaughn escaped and was caught again after a short foot pursuit.

Vaughn was treated and released for minor injuries from the chase. 

Vaughn was charged with trafficking in cocaine, fleeing or evading, escape, and resisting arrest. Harris was charged with conspiracy to trafficking in cocaine and cocaine possession. 

Both were taken to the McCracken County Regional Jail.