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Man charged with attempted murder of police officer

A Royalton man is in jail after fleeing from police and reportedly trying to run over one of the officers, resulting in an attempted murder of a police officer charge.

A Royalton man is in jail after fleeing from police and reportedly trying to run over one of the officers, resulting in an attempted murder of a police officer charge.

ROYALTON – A Royalton man is in jail after fleeing from police and reportedly trying to run over one of the officers, resulting in an attempted murder of a police officer charge.

According to the arrest citations, Kentucky State Police Tracy Salyer and Salyersville Police Department Officer Jeremiah Watson were patrolling in the Royalton area on Sunday, March 14, when Watson, who was driving on Meadows Branch Road, encountered a vehicle driven by someone believed to have active warrants and attempted to stop the vehicle.

Reportedly, Joshua Nathan Brown, 21, of Royalton, was traveling toward Watson, who activated his emergency lights. Brown began to drive in reverse, but his vehicle came out of gear. Watson approached the driver’s window as Brown continued to try to get the vehicle in gear. The door was locked, so Watson hit the window and told him to stop, shut off the car and step out the vehicle. Brown put the car in reverse and began to accelerate and cut his wheel toward Watson, almost hitting Watson, who was standing in the roadway, according to the citations.

Brown’s vehicle stopped, again, and Watson reportedly tried to bust his window, but Brown got the vehicle back into gear and started reversing towards KY Rt. 7, almost hitting Trooper Salyer, according to the police reports.

Salyer activated his emergency lights and, once activated, Brown reportedly crossed the centerline into Salyer’s line of travel, running him out of the road. Salyer turned around and pursued Brown’s vehicle, with Brown failing to yield, reaching speeds of approximately 78 MPH. Brown turned onto KY Rt. 867 and continued to Bill Fork Road, then on Bill Fork Road until he exited the roadway and his vehicle came to a stop in the ditch line. Brown exited the vehicle out his driver’s side window. Salyer gave loud verbal commands to stop, but Brown continued to run on foot for approximately one and a half miles in the woods, according to the citations.

Once close enough, Salyer deployed his taser, which caused Brown to go to the ground. He continued to resist arrest, refusing to give his hands and trying to continue to get up and pull away, according to police reports.

Salyer and Watson handcuffed Brown and he was escorted back out of the woods. Brown told police he had used methamphetamine and complained of trouble breathing.

Lifeguard Ambulance Service was called to the scene to check Brown, who they advised they believed he was okay and that he could be transported.

Salyer ran his identification, finding that his operator’s license was suspended, the wrong registration plate was on the vehicle and he did not have any insurance on the car, according to police reports.

Brown was taken to the Paul B. Hall Regional Medical Center, where he was read implied consent, declined an attorney, consented to a blood test, and declined an independent test. Brown was medically cleared and transported to Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he remains at press time, facing the following charges: no registration plates; no registration receipt; failure to produce insurance card; failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance, first offense; rear license not illuminated; license to be in possession; failure to wear seat belts; improperly on left side of road; reckless driving; fleeing or evading police, first degree (motor vehicle); murder – police officer (attempt); resisting arrest; and menacing.

A warrant of arrest was issued for Brown from an incident on March 6, at which time Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputy Ryan Caudill was attempting to serve active bench warrants on Brown. According to the warrant, Brown was lying on the ground working a vehicle when he saw Caudill, who introduced himself. Brown reportedly jumped up and took off into the woods. Caudill chased Brown into the woods, and was able to grab him at one point, but Brown jerked away, causing the officer to fall onto a broken tree and hurting his knee. Brown could not be located after that, resulting in the warrant that charged him with third-degree assault of a police officer and second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot.

Three felony cases are active against Brown, but no court dates are set at press time.

Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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