A Leitchfield man who has displayed sometimes violent and erratic behavior, and is the same man who fought with Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins and Deputy Sean Fentress, has been arrested for sending threatening, sexually explicit messages to a teenage relative.
On Thursday, “a mother, accompanied by other family members, came into the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office to report that her 15-year-old daughter had been receiving explicit messages from a male family member,” Chaffins said. “The messages included requests for sex and threats of rape.”
The suspect, 31-year-old Travis R. England, of Leitchfield, is also accused logging onto Facebook Live and asking: “… if it would be better to ask her for sex or just break into her house and rape her,” according to Chaffins.
The sheriff added that England knows the child is a relative and 15-years-old.
A search warrant was obtained for England’s Facebook account, and a complaint warrant was issued.
The sheriff’s office on Friday evening at approximately 5:45 arrived at England’s Sadler Road residence and “engaged in a conversation with England outside a bedroom window …” England, though, refused to comply with commands to open the door and come out with his hands up, resulting in Sgt. Jordan Jones using a battering ram on the front door of the home.
Upon entering the residence, England was found standing in the kitchen. He was arrested without further incident.
England was charged with prohibited use of an electronic communications system to procure a minor for sex, a class D felony. He was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
At approximately 1:45 on Friday afternoon October 20, England walked into the sheriff’s office and demanded to see Chaffins. He was informed by office staff that the sheriff was not there. He responded that Chaffins needed to get his “a** to the office now,” according to police.
Fentress was at the office when the sheriff arrived approximately five minutes later. Chaffins made contact with England at the flag poles in front of the sheriff’s office, as the suspect was yelling at passing vehicles.
As the sheriff approached England, the suspect “stuck his hand up and told him not to come any further,” according to police.
When Chaffins told England he was on county property, the suspect “reached into a bag he was carrying.”
“Due to his erratic behavior and him whispering to a person who was not there,” police said, “it was quite obvious that England was under the influence of some substance.”
Chaffins then told England to hand over the bag, and when he refused, the sheriff grabbed the bag with England taking a “defensive stance.”
Fentress then grabbed England’s arm, with the suspect attempting to pull away from the deputy. Chaffins grabbed England’s other arm and a struggle ensued, as the suspect refused to comply with commands to place his hands behind his back.
England was told he was under arrest and he replied “that he was not going to jail and began screaming for help.” England was eventually taken to the ground, subdued and handcuffed.
Leitchfield police, including Officers Todd Oller and Brian Jennings, arrived and assisted in placing England in the back of a police vehicle.
England was charged with resisting arrest, public intoxication (excluding alcohol), third-degree criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct. He was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
Grayson County Sgt. Jason Luedke assisted at the scene.
That was not the first time England has created a scene at the sheriff’s office. He previously arrived at the office and demanded the sheriff’s office deposit $2.5 million into his bank account.
Additionally, England was arrested in May 2023, according to online records, and charged with reckless driving, disregarding a stop sign, speeding 10 mph over the limit, and displaying or possessing a cancelled or fictitious operator’s license.
In November 2019, he was charged with three counts of third-degree assault of a police officer, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, tampering with physical evidence, fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), and DUI (aggravating circumstances).
As Harrell was en route, he observed an Oldsmobile Alero, being driven by England, traveling 55 miles per hour south on North Main Street near the intersection of Mill Street.
As Harrell turned around to execute a traffic stop, England fled, turning onto Owensboro Road at the Leitchfield Public Square. He continued fleeing, turning onto Quarry Road before turning onto Beaver Dam Road and then Shrewsbury Road.
With speeds reaching over 80 miles per hour, England stopped his vehicle and backed up, slamming the rear of his car into the front of Harrell’s cruiser. The suspect continued to flee, eventually turning onto Caney Creek Road. Once on Caney Creek Road, England again stopped the car and backed into the front of Harrell’s cruiser.
From Caney Creek Road, England turned onto Layman Road, and about a quarter-mile before arriving at his residence, he tossed something out of the car window. England then turned into his driveway in the 1700 block of Layman Road, and was arrested by Harrell without further incident.
Then-Grayson County Deputy Zane Greer recovered the baggie England tossed out of his window. It contained what appeared to be methamphetamine.
(Headline photo: Travis R. England mugshot from May 2023 arrest in Grayson County)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
