A Leitchfield felon whose car flipped on North Main Street early Thursday morning, with the occupants fleeing the scene, has been arrested.
Benjamin R. Campbell, 40, was arrested Friday afternoon on Junction Street by Leitchfield Police Officer Chuck Hoover on two warrants: one out of Ohio County, the other originating in Madison County.
Campbell, who has a lengthy arrest history, was initially lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center before being transferred Monday afternoon to the Ohio County Jail where he’s being held on a $25,000 cash bond. The Ohio County Jail website says the warrant is for contempt of court libel/slander resistance to order.
The Madison County warrant, according to the arrest citation, is for failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. He was arrested in Madison County in February 2023 for public intoxication (excludes alcohol), according to online records.
A Ford Taurus registered to Campbell was involved in an accident Thursday morning at approximately 3:40. Leitchfield Police Department Sgt. DJ Newton and Officer Bryan Jennings responded to the crash at 713 North Main Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, police found the Taurus upside down in the roadway. According to witnesses, multiple people were in the vehicle, as the occupants tried to flip the car back onto its wheels. After that unsuccessful attempt, the occupants fled the scene.
Police searched the area for the driver without success.
The accident occurred when, while traveling north around a curve, the Ford left the roadway and partially entered a ditch before striking a culvert, flipping the car onto its top.
With the vehicle’s occupants fleeing the scene, police cannot be certain Campbell was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. But, he was arrested in Ohio County in May 2019 and charged with leaving the scene of an accident, DUI (aggravating circumstances), driving on an expired license, and no registration receipt.
Campbell has several other arrests over the last five years, including possession of methamphetamine, careless driving and speeding 11 mph over limit in Grayson County in June 2021; theft by unlawful taking in Grayson County in June 2020; third-degree criminal trespassing, third-degree criminal mischief and receiving stolen property in Grayson County in June 2020; two shoplifting charges and third-degree criminal mischief in Hardin County in May 2020; possession of methamphetamine in Ohio County in June 2019; and possession of methamphetamine in Ohio County in April 2018.
According to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, Campbell has been convicted on at least two felony offenses – In December 2020 in Grayson County for theft by unlawful taking (more than $500, less than $10,000) and in November 2018 in Ohio County for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
He is on probation until November 2025.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
