Kentucky State Police tip leads deputies to wanted pair in Carroll County

Two individuals with active arrest warrants were taken into custody May 25 after deputies located them at Harrison Hills Campground, according to a report filed by Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy Frank Herda.

According to the report, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office received information from Kentucky State Police regarding the possible location of Tammy Roof and Kevin Kesling.

Kentucky authorities advised Roof was wanted on an active felony domestic violence warrant through the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, while Kesling was wanted on an obstruction warrant through the Stark County Sheriff's Office.

Kentucky State Police also advised deputies that the pair were believed to be staying at Harrison Hills Campground and gave the make and model of the vehicle with Kentucky plates.

Herda and Deputy James West responded to the campground to investigate.

“After a short time, I had been driving south on Silver Maple. I looked over at Lot 1220 and saw Tammy Roof standing on a porch next to a camper,” Herda reported.

The deputy said he later spotted the vehicle described by Kentucky authorities and confirmed it by the vehicle's license plate.

According to the report, Roof went inside the camper after noticing law enforcement in the area.

Herda and West then approached the camper and made contact with Kesling.

“I asked Kesling to get Roof,” Herda wrote. “Kesling replied by stating she wasn't there. I advised again I knew she was there, which he denied again.”

With Kesling having an active warrant, deputies took him into custody.

Deputies believed Roof was inside the camper because Herda had observed her enter moments earlier.

Herda entered the camper to search for Roof after receiving no response to repeated calls for her to come out.

“After searching the rear of the camper, I came to the front where the bedroom was located,” Herda wrote. “I opened the door, advised Sheriff's Office again. I did not see Roof. I then picked up the bed to see Roof underneath.”

Roof was then taken into custody and placed in the rear seat of a patrol vehicle, according to the report.

While speaking with Kesling afterward, deputies again questioned him about Roof's whereabouts.

“Dep. West was stating to Kesling he asked several times if Roof was inside, which Kesling stated no,” Herda wrote. “Kesling continued to say that he was asleep in the bed and did not know she returned.”

Kesling was placed under arrest for obstructing justice for allegedly aiding in hiding Roof from apprehension, and both were transported to the Carroll County Jail. Kesling was later transferred to the Stark County Jail.

It is unknown at this time whether Roof's warrant in Kentucky is extraditable.