More charges filed against man in jail

        FLORENCE — Additional charges have been filed against a 23-year-old Florence man who was already in the Boone County jail after being arrested on a charge of driving a stolen car.

        Philip J. Herald, 23, of the 7700 block of Plantation Drive, now faces additional felony charges of second-degree burglary and fraudulent receipt of a credit card.

        Florence police said Mr. Herald broke into his brother-in-law's home April 3 and took a Mitsubishi Montero sport-utility vehicle out of the garage. A detective said the vehicle was later returned.

        On Feb. 26, Mr. Herald used one of two stolen credit cards to call a phone sex line, according to police.

        Mr. Herald has been in the Boone County jail since Saturday after police said he was seen driving a stolen 1999 blue Volkswagen Passat near the Wildwood Inn in Florence, according to police. Officers said Mr. Herald struggled with police over a pocket knife and tried to run. Officer Jason McGaha received a minor injury to his head during the struggle and chase, according to police.

        The Saturday incident resulted in a charge against Mr. Herald for receiving stolen property and first-degree fleeing and eluding police.
       

Erlanger accepting citizen applications

       ERLANGER — The Erlanger Police Department is accepting applications for its fourth Citizen's Police Academy.

        Classes will run 6:30-9:30 p.m. each Thursday from June 6 through Aug. 29 at the Erlanger Police station inside the municipal building, 505 Commonwealth Ave. Applicants must be at least 18. Registration forms can be picked up at the police department or city hall. Space is limited, and applications will be accepted until the class is filled.

        For more information, call Sgt. Darryl Jouett or Officer Richard Bohl at (859) 727-2424.
       

Class-action suit filed for defendants

        LOUISVILLE — A class-action lawsuit was filed Thursday on behalf of defendants who had felony drug charges against them dropped after two detectives were indicted last month.

        Metro Narcotics Detectives Mark Watson and Christie Richardson were indicted last month on more than 450 counts each of burglary, tampering with public records, perjury and theft.

        Prosecutors dismissed about 30 cases based on the indictments, which stemmed from an investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

        The Jefferson Circuit Court lawsuit names four plaintiffs — William Boyer, Troy Landrum, James Shipp and William Riggle — all of whom were arrested by Detectives Watson and Richardson, incarcerated and charged with felony drug offenses, the lawsuit said.

        It also said it's acting “on behalf of all persons whose constitutional and other legal rights have been violated by certain law enforcement personnel.”
       

Man's family files wrongful death suit

        CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The family of a Charleston man who was allegedly beaten by guards while in custody at the Boyd County Detention Center in Kentucky filed a wrongful death lawsuit Thursday.

        Chad Ray Boggess, 27, died April 12 at King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky., where he had been in a coma since March 16.

        Mr. Boggess was jailed in Boyd County after his March 12 arrest by Ashland police on a fugitive-from-justice warrant from West Virginia. He was accused of a Charleston burglary.

        The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Charleston on behalf of Mr. Boggess' estate.

        It names as defendants Deputies Bob Price, Matt Daniels and Douglas Raybourn; Jailer Bob Stevens; the Boyd County Detention Center; and Boyd County. It also names several John Does.

        Deputies Price, Daniels and Raybourn have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

        The defendants are accused of unreasonable seizure, excessive and deadly force and cruel and unusual punishment.

        The lawsuit alleges the beating started at the jail and “continued en route to, and at King's Daughters Medical Center.”
       

Actor announces he'll run for governor

        GREENUP — Sonny Landham, an actor who has played supporting roles in action movies Predator and 48 Hours, said Thursday he will run for governor as a Republican.

        A statement from Mr. Landham said his platform included overhauling child-support and other family law statutes. He also advocated defeat this year of a proposed constitutional amendment to approve a new system of family courts.

        Mr. Landham planned to make a public announcement Thursday night at the Greenup Public Library.

        Previously announced Republican candidates are Jefferson County Judge-executive Rebecca Jackson, state Rep. Steve Nunn of Glasgow and state Sen. Virgil Moore of Leitchfield.
       

Injunction preventing vote upheld by court

        FRANKFORT — An injunction that has prevented members of the Harrodsburg City Commission from removing Mayor Carol Dean Walters and an ally was upheld Thursday by the Kentucky Supreme Court.

        Three commissioners charged Ms. Walters and a fourth commissioner, Jerry Royalty, with misconduct, saying they gave a former police officer's radio and some other equipment to his widow.

        Ms. Walters and Mr. Royalty were charged jointly so that neither could vote on the charge against the other. The Court of Appeals issued an injunction to prevent a vote.

        Writing for the Supreme Court, Justice Janet Stumbo noted that a vote to remove a member of a city commission from office must be unanimous, except for the person under charges.

        “A faction of the commission can eliminate a rival faction simply by joining the charges against the members of the disfavored faction,” Judge Stumbo wrote. The ruling was unanimous.

        Ms. Walters and Mr. Royalty have been in a running battle with Commissioners Lonnie Campbell, Joe Hood and Jack Springate, as well as City Clerk Lorene Hembree and Police Chief Ernie Kelty. Ms. Walters has sued the others. Mr. Royalty has accused the other commissioners of violating the Open Meetings Act.

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