Kentucky officer indicted after incident involving water hose, taser after responding to explosion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Leitchfield police officer is on unpaid leave after being indicted.

A Special Grayson County Grand Jury indicted Sgt. DJ Newton on Nov. 13 for misdemeanor charges including assault, terroristic threatening, menacing and criminal trespassing.

Police said the indictment comes after an incident on June 9, when Newton responded to a fire around 10:45 p.m. and tased a man.

According to court documents, Newton injured Lannie Fentress and his son, Daron Fentress, both of whom were arrested that night.

According to the police citation written by Newton, when fire and police arrived to a home on Risen Drive, a "female and two males exited the home with one of the males, Lannie Fentress, holding a water hose. Lannie stated that lithium batteries had exploded in the basement. Lannie asked about the fire department and he was advised they were on their way."

Newton said Lannie and Daron Fentress attempted to go back into the home after officers advised them to move away because of several rounds of ammunition and firearms that were inside where the fire was happening.

"I attempted to usher Lannie away from the entry point to maintain his safety as well as minimize possible injuries due to the munitions," Newton wrote in the citation. "Lannie shoved my arms away and re-entered the structure."

Newton said officer Justin Cockerel tased Daron, and both Daron and Lannie were told they would be arrested.

According to the citation, when Cockerel attempted to grab Daron by the arm, he pushed him away and went into the house. "Lannie then made a statement, 'touch him and I'll f***ing kill you, you son of a bi***."

Newton said "Lannie drew his fist back with the water hose balled up in his hand. Lannie threw the hose toward my direction and I then deployed my taser for one cycle." He added that when he made his way toward Lannie to arrest him, he swung at Newton with a hard empty hand. Newton wrote that he ducked away from the punch, at which point Lannie shoved him across the room.

"Officer Cockerel began to strike Lannie and ordered him to place his hands behind his back and Lannie continued to resist arrest," Newton continued. "I then assisted Officer Cockerel in attempting to effect the arrest with hard empty-handed strikes."

Newton said Lannie was tased a second time, this time by a Grayson County sheriff's deputy.

"Officer Cockerel and I were both checked and released from the emergency room for smoke inhalation and injured right hands from the incident," Newton wrote.

Lannie Fentress was charged at the time of his arrest with menacing, terroristic threatening, assault and wanton endangerment of a police officer.

At the time of his arrest, Daron Fentress was charged with menacing, resisting arrest and wanton endangerment of a police officer.

In a statement, Lannie Fentress said their charges had all been dropped.

"At this time, Sgt. Newton is on leave without pay," Leitchfield Police said, adding that they could not comment on any internal action being taken "until the final disposition of any charges."

WDRB Investigates has a pending open records request with the Leitchfield Police Department, but is expecting to get body camera video of the incident soon.

Newton is expected in court on Wednesday morning to answer to his criminal charges. He told WDRB that he has hired attorney Thomas Clay to represent him.

This story may be updated.

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