PAINTSVILLE, Ky. — A Paintsville Police officer found himself on the wrong side of the law, when he was placed under arrest early Sunday morning.
Police were called to Taco Bell in Paintsville just after midnight Sunday morning, over a report of an ATV in the drive-thru with a driver who appeared to be intoxicated. A Paintsville Police officer and Johnson County sheriff’s deputy responded to the call, and found the ATV leaving the drive-thru when they arrived.
The police report notes that the driver, identified as 36-year-old Paintsville Police patrolman James Bradley, was swerving and ran a red light. According to the police report, in addition to Bradley, there was one other adult and five children on the ATV.
When officers approached, they reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol, but Bradley said hadn’t had anything to drink for about two hours. After Bradley failed a field sobriety test, he was taken to Paintsville ARH to have blood drawn to determine his impairment level.
Bradley refused to give blood, so officers obtained a search warrant for his blood. However, the police report notes he continued to rotate his arm back and forth, jerked away while being restrained, hit the officers with his shoulders, and at one point stood up on the bed and fell, hitting the officers. He finally relented and allowed blood to be drawn.
Bradley has been charged with DUI, five counts of wanton endangerment, two counts of assaulting a police officer and several other charges. He was booked in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center and released a few hours later on a $500 surety bond.
Paintsville Mayor Bill Mike Runyon declined to comment on the incident or Bradley’s current employment status, except to say it remains under investigation.
