Inez, Ky – An Inez woman is accused of using a stolen bank card to make about $2,000 in unauthorized purchases. Martin County deputies arrested 54-year-old Rose Ellen Johnson on a charge of fraudulent use of a credit card involving $1,000 to $10,000. Investigators say surveillance video showed Johnson using the victim’s card at multiple businesses in Kentucky and Ohio. Police say Johnson later admitted finding the victim’s wallet and removing the bank card. She remains lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
Floyd County, Ky – Former Floyd County Schools Chief Safety Officer Thomas Gearheart has filed a lawsuit against the Floyd County Board of Education, alleging he was retaliated against and ultimately lost his job after reporting student safety concerns and cooperating with law enforcement. Gearheart claims the district took adverse actions after he raised concerns about investigations involving students. In a statement, Floyd County Schools denied the allegations, saying student safety remains its top priority and that personnel decisions were made independently of the issues raised in the lawsuit. The case is now pending in Floyd Circuit Court.
Johnson County, Ky – Kentucky State Police have arrested two men following a pursuit in Johnson County. Troopers say a sergeant attempted to stop a vehicle on U.S. 23 Sunday morning for having no visible registration plate and excessive window tint, but the driver refused to stop. The chase ended on KY 825 after troopers used a PIT maneuver to disable the vehicle. Investigators say they found more than $1,000 worth of suspected stolen AT&T communication line and tools used to remove it. Christopher Mollette and William Cantrell face multiple charges and are being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
Floyd County, Ky – An 18-wheeler loaded with thousands of boxes of frosted blueberry Pop-Tarts caught fire Monday morning along Highway 80 in Floyd County. Firefighters say the truck was headed from the Pop-Tarts plant in Phelps to Texas when the trailer caught fire around 7 a.m. Investigators believe a mechanical issue, possibly an overheated brake, sparked the blaze. The driver and co-driver were not injured. Multiple agencies responded as crews battled the fire and cleared debris, while traffic was reduced to one lane.