New information regarding a Grayson County Sheriff’s Office arrest of a felon with a violent history, made at gunpoint early Friday morning in Millwood, has come to light.
As Luedke was en route, the caller told dispatch the apparent prowler had entered a nearby wooded area.
As Luedke arrived on scene, he encountered a man with a gun standing in front of the caller’s residence, according to the arrest citation, with the man pointing the gun at Luedke.
“Believing I was about to be shot, I immediately drew my duty pistol and pointed it at him,” Luedke said in the citation. “I ordered him to drop it and he immediately complied.”
The man with the gun, an intoxicated 36-year-old Andrew S. Hale, of Millwood, was the person who called dispatch to report a prowler, the citation states. And the firearm he pointed at Luedke was in reality a black paintball gun partially covered in camouflage (as shown in the headline photo and below).
“Deadly force is the LAST measure that we want to take in any situation, but Hale was very fortunate that he was not taken from the scene by the Grayson County Coroner after pointing a gun at Sgt. Luedke,” Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins said about the nearly fatal incident. “Sgt. Luedke would have certainly been justified in using deadly force had (Hale) refused his commands to drop the weapon! It wasn’t until after the incident that my deputy realized it was a paintball gun. I don’t think that Hale realized how close he came to being shot.”
Luedke, who was visibly shaken by the incident, Chaffins said, arrested Hale and charged him with first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, menacing and alcohol intoxication in a public place.
He was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center but has since been released on a $2,500 bond.
Hale’s previous brush with law enforcement, which resulted in a felony conviction, began on the evening of December 22, 2018, when Hale was arrested after Clarkson Police Chief Buck Meredith and multiple deputies from the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 200 block of West Main Street in Clarkson on the report of a domestic violence disturbance.
Upon law enforcement arriving, they found Hale was intoxicated and had physically attacked his girlfriend by kicking her and striking her in the head. Hale’s girlfriend left the room after the assault. She then heard a loud “clap” and screaming after Hale struck her three-year-old child, police said.
According to authorities, the toddler had “obvious” injuries, as the toddler displayed redness, swelling and scratches to the face, neck and ear. Police said Hale struck the toddler in the head because he was playing with a cellphone, instead of playing with toys.
The incident began when Hale asked his girlfriend to drive him to Leitchfield to purchase more alcohol. When she refused, Hale said he’d drive himself, but his girlfriend would not allow him.
Hale was charged with criminal abuse of a child under the age of 12, domestic violence assault and endangering the welfare of a minor.
He was later convicted of second-degree criminal attempt of criminal abuse (victim under the age of 12) and fourth degree assault. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and is on probation until June 2024, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
