A man has been arrested after nearly being shot by local law enforcement as he behaved erratically and fired shots while standing on the Western Kentucky Parkway Leitchfield on-ramp.
Sunday night at approximately 6:30, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Fred Norder responded to the intersection of South Main Street and the Western Kentucky Parkway westbound on-ramp on the report of a man “yelling and shooting a gun.”
Upon arriving at the scene, Norder observed 52-year-old William Willis, of Louisville (but with ties to Leitchfield), standing on the right shoulder of the road at South Main Street and the on-ramp.
According to the arrest citation, Norder said Willis was holding a black handgun and yelling loudly.
Norder positioned his cruiser about 20 feet from the suspect and instructed Willis to drop the gun. Willis
“turned away” from Norder “while yelling obscenities and bending forward at the waist.” It appeared to Norder, according to the citation, that Willis may have been preparing to turn and fire on the deputy.
As Norder pointed his firearm at Willis, he continued to issue commands for the suspect to drop the weapon. Eventually, Willis dropped “two black colored handguns and a large hatchet,” according to the citation.
As Norder held the suspect at gunpoint, Leitchfield Police Officer Missy Skaggs took Willis into custody and located a large knife in Willis’ waistband.
LPD Officers Bart Glenn and Chase Melton also arrived on scene, as police determined the two firearms Willis dropped were CO2 BB guns. One of the weapons had “Ruger” stamped on it, the citation said, with a barrel roughly the same diameter as a 9mm handgun.
While searching the area where Willis had been standing, Skaggs and Melton found a glass pipe with residue. Police also found a bag of methamphetamine on Willis.
The suspect was arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), first-degree wanton endangerment, public intoxication (excludes alcohol), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
