The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crime Branch located and arrested Nathan Otis Grandon, 57, on charges related to a child sexual abuse material investigation.

Grandon was located, interviewed, and arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect sharing a sexually explicit image of a juvenile online.

The investigation resulted in executing a search warrant at a residence in Monticello on May 17, 2023. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination. The investigation is still ongoing.

Grandon is currently charged with one count of distributing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance. This charge is a Class-C felony punishable by five to ten years in prison. Grandon was lodged in the Wayne County Jail.

The Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is comprised of more than twenty-six local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The mission of the ICAC Task Force, created by the United States Department of Justice and administered by the Kentucky State Police, is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations.

This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education. The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

Liberty City Council met in a special called session Wednesday.

The Council declared Saturday, May 20th as Trell Whitis Day.  Mayor Sam Haddad signed the official proclamation... ((Mayor Haddad))
Family, friends and community have created a non-profit organization called Trell's Warriors in honor of Trell. This Saturday, there will be a parade in Danville to honor Trell. Participants should meet at 9:30am at The Showroom, 2405 Lebanon Rd., Danville.

In other business, there was a first reading of an ordinance relating to zoning. The First Baptist Church on Hustonville St. requested the zoning change to build a community youth center. The first reading was approved.

The Council also worked on the City's budget. ((Mayor Haddad)).

The Council tabled the first reading of next year's budget for further review. They scheduled another Special Meeting for Wednesday, May 24th at 5:30pm.

  Casey County fiscal Court met in regular session Monday.

  Judge executive Randy Dial presented the first reading of the fiscal year 2024 budget. ((CCFC-1-Budget)) The first reading was approved. The second reading will be held next month.

  There was also a first reading of the budget amendment. ((CCFC-2-Amendment)) The amendment was approved.

  Also under general business, Judge Dial said the health insurance rates had went up slightly from last year, however he recommended staying with Kay Co as the insurance provider for fiscal year 24. The motion was made and approved.

 Yearly bids were awarded to the low bidders for gas and diesel for county vehicles, food service for the jail, cleaning service for the judicial center, pest control, etc. Road oil contract went to Hudson Materials, chip & seal labor, and crushed rock, was awarded to Gaddy Shamrock. Other rock and asphalt paving was awarded to Hinkle construction. Judge Dial noted an increase in the price for asphalt paving. Those bids were approved with the exception of cleaning supplies.

 The county had to purchase a replacement van for the Ag Center due to an accident. Price of the replacement van was $11,000. The previous van, a 2007 Chevy Express, was declared surplus property.

 Due to retirement, Melissa Richards was appointed as Treasurer with a salary of $9,000 per year.

 Under road business, magistrates voted to give Judge Dial permission to participate in an upcoming salt auction in the amount of about 100 tons. Two Mack trucks were declared surplus property. The court voted to hire Mike VanLeuven at the county road department.

 Under jail business, three bids were submitted for roof repair to the jail. There was a lengthy discussion, with no action taken. Magistrates also voted to approve a proposed work release program.

 Casey County Sheriff Chad Weddle gave his monthly activity report for the month of April. ((CCFC-3-Sheriff))

A domestic dispute leads to the arrest of two Casey County men over the weekend.

Around 1pm Friday, Casey County Sheriff Chad Weddle responded to the call of female in need of assistance at Breeden Withers Grocery. The victim reported she'd been in a fight with her boyfriend, 21 year old Ethan Daly, of 243 Howe Hollow Rd., Middleburg, and had a knot on her left eye.

Mr. Daly was located at the Riteway Grocery, along with Jayden Soule, 22 of 3789 South Fork Ridge Rd., Liberty.

While searching Daly, Sheriff Weddle found a Meth Pipe with residue in his pocket.
Liberty Police Officer Geoff Brown stopped Mr. Soule as he started to walk away. A search located a Meth Pipe with Residue, along with a bag containing Methamphetamine in his pocket.

Daly was charged with Assault-4th Degree (minor injury), Possession of Meth-1st Degree, & Drug Paraphernalia.

Soule was charged with Possession of Meth-1st Degree, & Drug Paraphernalia.

Both were lodged in the Casey County Jail.

At this week's meeting of the Pulaski County Fiscal Court, the Sheriff's Department made a plea for more officers.

Jeff Henderson reports from Somerset...

U.S. Navy sailors serve and protect from around the globe, and every sailor got their start somewhere.

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Zander Jenkins, from Bardstown, Kentucky, assigned to the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) deck department, tightens the anchor chain turn buckle in the fo’c’sle during a sea and anchor evolution, May 5, 2023.

Gerald R. Ford is the flagship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. As the first-in-class ship of Ford-class aircraft carriers, CVN 78 represents a generational leap in the U.S. Navy’s capacity to project power on a global scale. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Newsome)

The Casey County School Board met in regular session Monday.

Liberty City Council met in regular session Monday.

A Boyle County man was arrested in Casey County over the weekend.

Shortly after 4pm Friday, Deputy Tyler Luttrell, with Casey Co. Sheriff's Office, responded to the call of a disturbance at S&T Market, about seven miles East of Liberty on KY 49.  Upon arrival, he made contact with 26 year old Cody M. Ragle, of 26 Fitzgerald Rd., Junction City.

Ragle was standing outside talking to himself, and had a 5th of liquor in his hand.  The Deputy asked Ragle what he was doing, and Ragle put a bathroom towel on the ground and stated he was trying to sell some of the towel.  

The citation notes Ragle had slurred speech and was causing a disturbance at the gas station.  His eyes were blood shot and his pupils were dilated.

When asked if he'd been drinking, or done any kind of drugs, Ragle stated he'd had a little bit to drink.  The Deputy noted Ragle talked the entire time and couldn't stop moving around.

Mr. Ragle was lodged in the Casey County Jail on charges of Public Intoxication (Controlled Substance), and Disorderly Conduct-2nd Degree.

A Somerset man was arrested in Russell County following a weekend pursuit.

Around 6pm Saturday, Russell Springs Police Officer Mason Miniard, observed a reckless driver, traveling at a high rate of speed and almost colliding with other vehicles while passing them. He attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued on, and ended up losing control and hitting a tree.

The driver took off on foot towards the Dollar General store on Apache Avenue. RSPD Officer Brenton Llané made contact with the suspect at the store and brought him back to the scene of the accident.

33 year old Samuel Rose, of Somerset, was taken into custody and charged with Reckless Driving, DUI, Possession of a Firearm By a Convicted Felon, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine-1st Degree, Leaving Scene of Accident, Tampering With Physical Evidence, & Fleeing or Evading Police, 1st Degree (Motor Vehicle & on Foot).

Mr. Rose was lodged in the Russell County Jail.

Casey County Clerk, Casey Davis stopped by the studio last week to give us an election update...
 

A Liberty woman arrested after she ran from police following an injury accident.

Casey County Deputies, Tyler Luttrell & Austin Harris, were dispatched to a single vehicle accident Tuesday, about four miles North of Liberty on US 127.  Upon arrival, they made contact with the driver, 34 year old Brittany Marie Allard, of Trammel St., Liberty, who was very irate, and did not wish to talk.  The citation states Ms. Allard displayed signs of impairment. Casey County EMS transported Allard to the Hospital.

A witness told Officers that Allard stated she'd smoked some marijuana.

Deputy Luttrell made contact with Allard at the Hospital, where she stated she had wrecked due to being upset. She also stated she had moved here from Florida and was in rehab because of an alcohol problem.  Allard denied having anything to drink that day, and refused a blood test.  She continued to be rude with Deputies and Nurses, and refused treatment.

As Deputies left the Hospital, Nurses ran out to report Allard had fled out the back door.  They chased her through a residential yard and found her hiding in some bushes.  The citation states Allard was screaming and cussing the Deputies as they escorted her back to the Hospital.  

Nurses told Officers they saw Allard throw something as she fled. Two small vodka bottles were recovered.  Allard also admitted to throwing a small amount of Marijuana, which was not found.

Allard was lodged in the Casey County Jail on charges of DUI, Fleeing/Evading Police-1st Degree (on foot), and Criminal Littering.

The Kentucky State Police, London Post was called investigating a fatal at the intersection of KY 1247 and Floyd Switch Road in Pulaski County at approximately 1:15 PM Thursday afternoon.

The initial investigation indicates that a 2021 Black Dodge Ram Pickup and trailer operated by Bryson W. Goff, 21 years old of Eubank, KY, was traveling north on KY 1247 when his vehicle side swiped a 2011 Silver Dodge Ram Pickup Truck, driven by Carl W. Richmond, 54 years old of Waynesburg, KY.  Mr. Goff sustained fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office.   

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by KSP Post 11 Trooper Cory Jones.  He was assisted at the scene by Post 11 Personnel, Pulaski County EMS, Pulaski County Sheriffs Office, Eubank Police Department, Eubank Fire Department, and the Pulaski County Coroner.