Staff Report

A Harlan man allegedly filled his car with gas and then drove off from the pump with the nozzle still attached to his vehicle, ripping the nozzle and hose from the pump, according to the Harlan County Sheriff’s Deputy Mitch Alford.

Michael C. Pace, 28, of 549 Grays Branch Road, now faces numerous charges after being arrested by Alford just minutes following the 10:25 p.m. incident at the Shell station, located at the intersection of U.S. 421 and U.S. 119 at Baxter.

According to Alford’s citation, a complaint came over the radio that a silver car had left the station with the “gas nozzle still attached to his car.” Alford then observed the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire traveling south on U.S. 421 at an apparent high rate of speed and “swaying from side to side on the roadway.” He then successfully made the traffic stop, finding the gas lid was missing from the vehicle.

“I walked to the vehicle and the Mr. Pace advised that he had left the Shell station and that he was the one who drove off because he was scared,” according to Alford’s report. Due to observations of the suspect’s actions, blood and urine tests were conducted. “The above subject stated marijuana would be in his system,” according to the citation.

Numerous charges were filed. These include careless driving, failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance first offense, failure to produce an insurance card and operating a motor vehicle under the influence.

He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.

Harlan Police Officer Andy Soltess is carrying the investigation of the criminal mischief stemming from the damage to the station’s gas pump.

In addition to Soltess and Alford, other officers assisting were Harlan Police Officer Terry Jacobs and deputies Dee Dee Ulbrich and Travis Freeman.

In another report, after receiving a call from officials at Food City in the Woodland Plaza in Harlan, about a possible shoplifter in the store, Harlan Police Officer Derrick Noe responded to the scene. Upon his arrival, he arrested Michael Earls, 28, of Cawood, on a charge of public intoxication (controlled substance).

“At approximately 3:30 p.m., Food City called and said they had a subject who was impaired roaming around the store trying to shoplift,” said Noe. “When we got out there Michael Earls had made it outside the store. He didn’t have any merchandise on him. He kept telling us he didn’t steal anything. He did tell us the people in Food City were watching him and following him around the store. He was visibly under the influence, so he was arrested and charged with public intoxication (controlled substance).”

He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.

After being lodged at the detention center, deputy Danny Lewis executed another warrant on Earls for first-degree burglary forced entry. The warrant was obtained by Cawood resident Bethel Stewart. Earls appeared in Harlan District Court on Tuesday where his bond was set at $20,000, 10 percent cash bond.

Also arrested Tuesday on a parole violation warrant was James Tracy Cloud, 43, of Baxter.

“Officials from the office of Probation and Parole spotted Mr. Cloud on the walking trail that runs parallel to the Harlan bypass in the Dressen area near O’Reilly’s Auto Parts,” said Noe. “They called us and asked if we would serve a parole violation warrant on him. At approximately 2 p.m., we responded to the scene and served the warrant on Mr. Cloud. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center with no bond allowed.”

In another report from early Tuesday, Kentucky State Trooper Jared Boggs said a Harlan man was injured in a single-vehicle crash at Cranks at about 5 a.m.

Boggs reported Rick Bledsoe, 29, of Elcomb, was travelling on U.S. 421 when he lost control of his vehicle and hit a ditch. He was transported by ambulance to Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital for treatment. According to police, Bledsoe was not immediately flown out to due to weather conditions in the area. However, he was later transferred to Holston Valley Medical Center where he remained late Tuesday.

Boggs cited Bledsoe to court on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence and no seat belt.