Attorney arrested at courthouse for allegedly pistol-whipping man

LOUISVILLE, Ky., (WDRB) – A Shelbyville attorney was arrested at the county courthouse Monday, accused of having “pistol whipped” a man earlier this month.

Attorney James Tim Crawford was arrested after authorities asked him to step outside of a Shelby County courtroom and told him he had a pending warrant on an assault 2nd charge.

Crawford, according to a criminal complaint, struck a man in the face with a revolver on Sept. 13 at about 3:30 in the morning.

When police and EMS arrived, the alleged victim was on the floor bleeding in Crawford’s basement. The victim told police he had been “pistol whipped,” according to the criminal complaint. A witness said Crawford told the victim "I knocked you the ---- out."

Crawford, 55, has been released from the Shelby County Detention Center on a $10,000 surety bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 27.

In an interview, Crawford said he was innocent and "I will be fully exonerated. I can promise you that."

Crawford, a defense attorneys was upset that court deputies would not allow him to finish a client's case before taking him outside the courtroom and placing him under arrest.

"That really insults me a great deal," said Crawford, adding that he has been practicing in Shelbyville for 13 years. "I had to tell my client I had an emergency. ...I was embarrassed and humiliated."