Leitchfield man fights with police on side of WK Parkway as he’s arrested for fifth DUI

jerry-martin-09-06
jerry-martin-09-06

A Leitchfield man received his fifth DUI along with several other charges after fighting with police on the Western Kentucky Parkway.

Thursday night at approximately 9:15, Grayson County Central Dispatch received a report of a possible drunk driver traveling in a 2010 Chevrolet Impala on South Main Street. The vehicle was reported to be entering the eastbound parkway. The caller informed dispatch that the Chevy had a headlight out.

Clarkson Police Officer Blake Elmore executed a traffic stop on the Impala, being driven by 39-year-old Jerry S. Martin, near the 112 mile marker. Upon making contact with Martin, Elmore requested assistance as he felt Martin was under the influence of intoxicants.

Responding to Elmore’s request within a few minutes was Grayson County Sgt. Fred Norder.

Police quickly determined Martin had four suspension orders due to him being charged with DUI on four previous occasions.

Norder notes in the arrest citation that Martin displayed a “very strong odor of intoxicants, his eyes were bloodshot with a glassy appearance and he spoke with slurred speech.”

As Norder was performing a field sobriety test on Martin, the suspect became agitated and he refused to perform the test.

Martin then lunged toward Norder and said, “Let’s go (expletive), take me in.” The citation states that as Norder and Elmore ordered Martin to place his hands behind his back, he “immediately began to resist.” Martin grabbed the back of his vehicle in an attempt to keep officers from placing him in handcuffs.

Martin then “turned toward” officers, causing police to fear that Martin was going to either attempt to strike one of the officers or grab one of the officers’ weapons. A struggle ensued between Norder, Elmore and Martin, with police taking action to take the suspect to the ground, as he fought with officers only feet from passing parkway traffic.

Elmore then deployed his taser as he tried to control the suspect. Martin, though, continued to fight police as officers were eventually able to place handcuffs on the suspect.

Elmore suffered a slight injury during the altercation.

Once in cuffs, Martin began threatening the officers, telling Norder that he “hoped someone would blow my head off,” according to the citation. Martin also said he would beat Norder’s (expletive) if he was out of handcuffs. The suspect additionally told Norder he would “get” the sergeant’s wife and kids.

Once at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center, where Martin was taken by Deputy DJ Newton for medical clearance, Martin threatened Norder again, saying he would “eat (Norder’s) brains like a bowl of noodles.” Martin also threatened all the officers with bodily harm.

Martin was medically cleared and lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center where he’s been charged with his fifth DUI (aggravating circumstances), assault of a police officer, three counts of resisting arrest, four counts of terroristic threatening, criminal mischief, menacing, driving on a DUI suspended license (aggravating circumstances), having only one working headlight, no registration plate, no registration receipt, and failure to provide insurance.

Assisting Elmore, Norder and Newton at the scene were Leitchfield Police Officers Bart Glenn and Kelsey Overton along with deputies-in-training Allen Cleveland, Chance Anthony and Sean Fentress.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000