A Leitchfield man allegedly high on drugs has been arrested after threatening a Grayson County deputy with a hammer and piece of lumber.
Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3:45, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Fred Norder and Constable Mark Stanton responded to the Tar Hill area after receiving information that an intoxicated 41-year-old Larry Portman was “pounding on the doors” of residences on St. Paul and Tar Hill Holly Roads, while also “walking on the roadway and yelling incoherently,” according to the arrest citation.
While searching for Portman in the 4700 block of St. Paul Road, law enforcement located several medications labeled as belonging to the suspect in a shed that had been forced open, and was apparently serving as Portman’s makeshift residence.
The owner of the property told police that no one was supposed to be living in any of his outbuildings.
After searching for Portman for nearly an hour, Stanton located the suspect just north of Tar Hill Holly Road.
As Norder approached Portman, the suspect began “yelling and cursing” before stating that Norder “was under citizen’s arrest,” the citation states. Portman then ran from Norder before stopping and picking up a hammer, “and prepared to throw” the hammer at the sergeant, the citation says.
In response, Norder deployed his taser but struck Portman with only one probe as Norder moved in an attempt to protect himself from the hammer. The suspect again began running from Norder and picked up a “large piece of lumber,” swinging it at the sergeant, according to the citation.
Norder, while reloading his taser, and with Stanton taking aim at the suspect, ordered Portman to the ground. Portman briefly complied, but as police tried to cuff him, he refused to give officers his hands, with force used to bring Portman into compliance.
As Norder walked Portman to his patrol vehicle, the suspect began cursing and spitting at the officer, the citations states, with Portman kicking at Norder as he placed him in the back of the cruiser.
Police located a methamphetamine pipe containing apparent meth residue on Portman.
Once at the Grayson County Detention Center, Portman went after Norder again, but detention center staff intercepted the suspect.
He was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, third-degree assault of a police officer, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), third-degree terroristic threatening, resisting arrest, fleeing or evading police, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication (excludes alcohol), and criminal trespassing.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
