Busy Holiday for Sheriff’s Department
Voice Staff Report
editor@tmcvoice.com
Photo by MCSO Three officers surrounded a camper and arrested James Eugene Strunk of Pine Knot, retrieved a gun and a tractor stolen from a chicken farm on Bethel Road.
McCreary County Sheriff Randy Waters reported that on the morning of December 24, 2020 a 911 caller stated an officer was needed on Leamon Richmond Road in Pine Knot and that someone had driven a tractor through their gate and was fighting with her husband. The victim told the officers responding that the subject had him on the ground and had punched him in the face. When the victim attempted to retrieve a gun from his back pocket the two fought for the gun and the subject fired two shots between the victim’s legs, took the gun and got on the tractor and fired two more shots before leaving.
Sheriff Waters, Chief Deputy Tom Smith and Kentucky State Police Trooper Shaler Jones followed the tire tracks left by the tractor to a driveway on Airport Road. The owners of a camper they had been living in came running out and met the officers, telling them a man who had been driving a tractor had entered their camper with a gun and said he would shoot anyone who came in the door.
The three officers surrounded the camper and after about 15 minutes talked the subject out. The gun taken from the victim was retrieved from the camper with two live rounds left in it. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured or shot in the incident.
The officers discovered the tractor had been stolen from inside a building on a chicken farm on Bethel Road where the subject had backed it through a door to get it out. He had also taken several items from the farm including the boots he was wearing.
James Eugene Strunk of Pine Knot was arrested and charged with the alleged offenses of Robbery, 1st Degree, Wanton Endangerment, 1st Degree-Police Officer, Assault, 4th Degree (Minor Injury), Criminal Mischief, 3rd Degree, Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Burglary, 3rd Degree and being a Persistent Felony Offender II.
The McCreary County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police are in charge of the investigation.
County Road truck stolen and burned
Photo by MCSO McCreary County Sheriff Randy Waters reported that on Sunday morning, December 27, 2020, around 4:30 am, someone stole a County Road Department truck and backed it through the gate. The truck was found later that day on Heron Road, just off East Journeys End Road. The stolen truck had been set on fire and destroyed. Sheriff Waters is asking the public for any information that would lead to the arrest of the person or persons who stole the truck. If you have information about this crime call 606-376-2322 or call 911.
