At approximately 4:30 Monday afternoon, Kentucky State Police was requested by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a trespassing complaint in the 300 block of Hill Bridge Road, about five miles north of Utica.
Police said a Jeep Grand Cherokee was doing “donuts” in muddy farm fields nearby.
Upon arriving at the scene, Daviess County Deputies and Kentucky State Police located the Jeep, unoccupied, at a residence on Hill Bridge Road. It was soon discovered that the Jeep had been reported stolen out of Fayette County.
As police approached the residence to investigate, the suspect ran out the back door of the home and got in the Jeep. Police said he “aggressively sped away, doing donuts in the yard (and) throwing mud and debris on a sheriff’s deputy.”
The suspect then fled, driving through fields for about a mile before crashing and fleeing on foot.
Authorities said a trooper quickly located the male suspect, with the trooper confronting the man, who had a pistol in his hand. The trooper ordered the suspect to drop his gun, but the suspect failed to comply and continued to walk toward the trooper with the pistol in his hand.
As the suspect continued to approach police, he pointed the pistol at the trooper, with the trooper firing a rifle, striking the suspect.
The man was transported, with a law enforcement escort, to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police said the suspect’s identity is currently unknown.
The trooper involved was not injured in the incident, and has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is normal protocol for most police agencies when officers are involved in use of force.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
