PRESS RELEASE

August 31, 2020

Pulaski County Sheriff Greg Speck reports that a Science Hill, Kentucky man is facing several charges after his arrest by Deputies on Sunday evening, August 30, 2020.

Around 8 pm Sunday night, Deputy Austin Swartz responded to a 911 call of a domestic dispute on East Todd Road in Science Hill, Kentucky.

Upon arrival at 446 East Todd Road, Deputy Swartz observed a male subject sitting in a pickup truck firing a shotgun out the window. The Deputy commanded the subject to drop the weapon. The individual with the shotgun exited the truck and fired another time into the air before complying with the command to drop the shotgun. Sergeant Richard Smith arrived on the scene and assisted Deputy Swartz in placing the subject, later identified as Benjamin K. Haste, age 40 of North Highway 1247, Science Hill, Kentucky, on the ground.

After being placed on the ground, Mr. Haste began resisting arrest and assaulted Sergeant Smith before being handcuffed.

Deputy Swartz made contact with Mr. Hershel Haste, the assailant's father, who advised that his son had forced his way inside the residence by breaking glass and kicking open the front door. Upon gaining entry into the residence, Benjamin K. Haste then assaulted his father and left the residence.

Deputy Swartz found an open container of alcohol in the pickup truck and detected a strong odor of alcohol on the assailant's breath.

Benjamin K. Haste was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center charged with the following:

1. Burglary, 1st Degree
2. Assault, 3rd Degree, Police Officer or Probation Officer
3. Operating Motor Vehicle Under Influence of Alcohol, 1st
4. Assault, 4th Degree (Domestic Violence) No Visible Injury
5. Possession of Open Container of Alcohol Beverage in Motor Vehicle
6. Menacing
7. Resisting Arrest
8. Criminal Mischief, 2nd Degree
9. Disorderly Conduct, 2nd Degree

Deputy Swartz was assisted at the scene by several Deputies, Somerset Police Department Officers and the Kentucky State Police.

Contact: Deputy Karl Clinard
Public Affairs Officer
606-678-5145