EKB News

A police chase turned fatal for an Elkhorn man last night when officers opened fire after the suspect allegedly attempted to reach for a weapon.
The suspect, later identified as 26 year old John Michael Keen was a possible suspect in multiple armed robberies taking place over the last few days. The pursuit began on Town Mountain Road sometime around 9:00 o’clock and ended after officers were able to deploy a tire deflation device, leading to the vehicle coming to a halt on North Bound US 23 just past the intersection of US 119. The driver of the vehicle, 32 year old Misty Damron of Elkhorn city surrendered to authorities however keen allegedly reached for a weapon stored in the vehicle at which time Trooper Chris Phillips and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement officer Keith Justice fired their weapons. Keen was pronounced dead by the Pike County Coroners office. Damron was taken into custody and charged with two counts of Robbery 1st degree, fleeing and evading 1st degree, driving under the influence and possession of drugs. She was lodged at the Pike County Detention Center.
Trooper Alfred Bunch received minor injuries during the incident and was treated and released form Pikeville Medical Center. Pursuant to their respective agencies policies, Trooper Phillips and officer Justice will be placed on administrative duties while the Kentucky state Police continue their investigation.

Police from several agencies are investigating after a suspect was fatally wounded and an officer injured during a pursuit last night. Officials have stated that the officer sustained non-life threatening injuries as a result of broken glass at the scene and was receiving treatment at Pikeville Medical Center last night. As of 3:00 am officials had not released the name of the suspect or the injured officer. Traffic on US 23 near the intersection of US 119 where the pursuit ended was re-directed until around 2:00 am Friday morning. EKB news will have an updates on this developing story throughout the day Friday.

An Eastern Kentucky native who ran Barack Obama's successful senatorial campaign in Illinois will serve as campaign manager for gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear. Jim Cauley, of Louisville, served as a consultant to the Democratic Governors Association through the November elections and had stated to EKB news that he had interest in being a part of next year's race for Governor.
As campaign manager for Obama in 2004, Cauley helped the senator win a seven-way Democratic primary and raise more than $15 million. Beshear, a former lieutenant governor and state attorney general, has tapped state Sen. Daniel Mongiardo of hazard as his running mate.

Board Members for Prestonsburg based 1st Commonwealth Bank gathered at the site of their first full-service branch location outside of Floyd County on Thursday for a ceremonial demolition of the old Krystal restaurant building. The ceremony signified the beginning of construction for the new location, which is tentatively scheduled to open in June of 2007.
Board Members

A Williamson man is dead after a fatal one vehicle accident Yesterday morning. According to the Kentucky State Police Robert L. Hendricks was traveling North on KY RT 292 when he lost control of his vehicle, ran off the road and struck a tree. Hendricks was pronounced dead on the scene by the Martin County Coroners office. The wreck remains under investigation by the Kentucky State Police.

A Pikeville man is behind bars on charges of driving under the influence of drugs as well as having counterfeit money. According to the arrest citation issued by the Pikeville Police Department 24 year old Christopher Cunningham was swerving back and forth on US 23 around 9:30 Tuesday evening when an officer executed a stop. The officer administered several sobriety tests allegedly failing all of them. The officer went on to state that Cunningham allegedly had what appeared to be loratab residue in both nostrils. After searching the vehicle, the officer uncovered 8 forged one hundred dollar bills. Cunningham was taken into custody on charges of Driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a forged instrument and a charge of criminal littering for throwing his trash out the window according to the citation. Cunningham remains lodged at the Pike County Jail on a $30,000 full cash bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on January 4th.

Police in Floyd County are investigating after human remains were discovered over the weekend. According to a spokesman for the State Police, the remains, which were found in the Right Beaver area of Floyd County, have been there for years. Part of the remains were sent to the State Medical Examiners office in Frankfort where an autopsy will be performed and officials hope that the body may be identified. State Police believe the remains to be that of a woman that was murdered though they offered no further details. Officials hope to be able to identify the remains within a week as the investigation continues by the Kentucky State Police.

Funeral arrangements have been set for a Kentucky State Police detective found dead at his home on Christmas day. 45 year old Stewart "Joey" Howard will be laid to rest during a ceremony taking place on Friday at 11:00 am at May Valley Elementary School. Detective Howard was found unresponsive at his Regina home Monday afternoon and was pronounced dead on the scene by the Pike County Coroner’s office. Officials believe that Howard, a sixteen year veteran of the Kentucky State Police died of a heart attack. The family of Detective Howard has requested that in Lieu of flowers donations be made to Trooper Island. Visit- http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/island.htm for more information on Trooper Island.

A Kentucky State Police Trooper’s condition has been upgraded to Good, as he remains hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle last night. The incident occurred around 8 o’clock as officers investigated an accident in the Harold area yesterday evening. Trooper Billy Joe Caudill of the Pikeville post was assisting another trooper with traffic control on US 23 near the junction of KY 979, when he was struck by a vehicle driven by 16 year old Ricky Rogers of Galveston. Neither Rogers nor his passengers were injured in the collision; however Trooper Caudill sustained multiple injuries and was transported to Pikeville Medical Center. According to the Kentucky State Police, they don’t believe that Alcohol or speed were factors in the collision. The accident remains under investigation by Accident reconstructionist Detective Eddie Crum.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who was deputy assistant attorney general during Gerald Ford's administration, said Wednesday that the former president did "the right thing" when he pardoned Richard Nixon to move the country past the Watergate scandal. Ford took office Aug. 9, 1974 moments after President Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace over Watergate. McConnell, known as a skilled political tactician, said former president ford “kind of restored the confidence of the American people after the Watergate episode had passed." The incoming Senate GOP leader made the statement today outside his Louisville home. Gov. Ernie Fletcher who directed flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff for 30 days in honor of Ford, was quoted as saying "President Ford was a humble public servant who led our country to calm in a time of turmoil and who did so with a kindness, dignity and sincerity that wasn't overlooked.

Above/Right: Troopers from across the state gathered Saturday Morning at Belfry High School as Funeral Services for Trooper Jonathan Leonard were held.

Arraignments for Detective Joey Howard are still incomplete at this time.


For the second time in a week the Kentucky State Police are mourning the loss of one of their own. 45 year old Detective Stewart Joey Howard was found unresponsive at his Regina home yesterday around the 2:00 o'clock hour. Officials with the KSP have stated that foul play is not suspected as they believe detective Howard died from natural causes.
Trooper Tony Watts Public Affairs Officer for the Hazard post who's helping out during this tough time for the agency spoke to EKB news earlier, detailing the scene of family among those who wear the grey suit. "This is a devastating loss of course for the agency and especially for the post 9 Troopers."
"Detective Howard was a tremendous asset to Post 9 in Pikeville. Our sympathy goes out to Detective Howard's family," said KSP Commissioner Jack Adams.
Howard was a 16 year veteran of the force who spent his entire career as a trooper serving at the Pikeville Post. Detective Howard was the second trooper from post 9 to die in less than a week. 28 year old Trooper Jonathan K. Leonard died in a car crash last week in the Sidney area, and was laid to rest during a ceremony held Saturday Morning.

Students and Staff at the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center in Prestonsburg in conjuction with the U.S. Marine Corps gave toys to less fortunate children from around the area on Thursday December 21st and Friday December 22nd during their 4th annual Toys for Tots. Officials at the Job Corps told EKB news that this years event was the biggest to date, with close to 1,000 children receiving gifts donated by citizens and area businesses.

A Zebulon man is behind bars on charges of cultivating marijuana. According to the citation issued by the Pikeville Police Department, 33 year old Jonathan Crider was taken into custody originally on a bench warrant for unpaid fines, however a search of his room at the Riverside Inn revealed that Crider allegedly had in his possession five marijuana plants as well as several pieces items considered to be drug paraphernalia. Crider was taken into custody on charges of marijuana cultivation and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains lodged at the Pike County Detention center and is expected to be arraigned tomorrow morning in Pike County District Court. The incident remains under investigation by the Pikeville Police Department.

The state has sent tax bills totaling $2.5 million to Kentuckians who own ritzy houseboats and cabin cruisers. About 3,500 people could have to begin paying state and local property taxes on their houseboats and cabin cruisers now that tax collectors from the Kentucky Department of Revenue know who they are. The boats - generally more than 25 feet long and often worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and up - have gone untaxed for years because they were registered with the U.S. Coast Guard and not the state. However, the state got approval from the Coast Guard to use its files to identify the boats and their owners. The Department of Revenue began notifying boat owners last summer that they were behind in their tax payments. The average boat tax bill so far is about $700 according to a report by the Associated Press.

A Delbarton man is dead after a one vehicle accident Christmas Eve. 31 years old Gary Peter Daniels was traveling westbound on KY RT 319 when he lost control of his vehicle, veered off the road and struck a tree around 10:25 Sunday evening. Daniels was pronounced dead on the scene by the Pike County Coroner’s Office and the crash remains under investigation by the Kentucky State Police.