NEWPORT, Ky. — A major law enforcement operation on Thursday morning led to the arrests of two men in Newport, Kentucky. The coordinated effort involved the Northern Kentucky SWAT team, the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, and the Cincinnati Police Department’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center.
At around 5:15 a.m., the team executed a high-risk search warrant at a residence on E. 2nd Street. They apprehended 32-year-old Joshua Samuel Smith who was wanted on multiple warrants, including two from Kentucky related to traffic offenses and one felony warrant from the Cheviot Police Department in Ohio for a 2024 shooting incident. Smith now faces additional charges in Kentucky, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and trafficking controlled substances, including marijuana.
Along with Smith, 20-year-old Justin Lee Egner Jr. was also arrested. Egner Jr. faces charges for tampering with evidence and trafficking marijuana. Both men are currently being held at the Campbell County Detention Center.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, with law enforcement commending the collaborative effort that led to these significant arrests in Newport.
