PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Pikeville man was arrested after police say he got drunk and then left work to drop in at another nearby business where he allegedly harassed female employees and threw a glass of beer at one employee’s husband.
Jacob Fletcher, 32, of Pikeville, was taken into custody at Pinch Aesthetics by Pikeville Police Department officers just before 6 p.m. Thursday evening.
According to the arrest citation, police were called to Pinch Aesthetics about an intoxicated male inside the business. One of the first statements given to officers was that Fletcher allegedly threw a glass of beer at one of the employee’s husband after he was called to come help them.
Prior to this, the citation adds that Fletcher “was making sexual comments” and “was ‘humping’ the air in front of them,” further stating that Fletcher was allegedly sitting in one employee’s lap.
Police reported that witnesses said Fletcher also told them he worked at Brothers Wright Distillery and had gotten drunk there before coming into the establishment, statements the police later confirmed.
Witnesses told police Fletcher left the business and went home. Police followed up and found him there, where, after a long struggle, they arrested him and took him to the Pike County Detention Center.
Brothers Wright Distillery issued a statement Friday on Fletcher’s arrest saying, “Yesterday, January 22, a former employee of Brothers Wright Distilling Co., Jacob Fletcher, was present at The Distillery in Pikeville as a patron, not an employee. During the time he was on the premises, Mr. Fletcher consumed four beers over the course of approximately six hours. At no point during this visit was he clocked in or acting in any capacity as an employee of Brothers Wright Distilling Co. Following his departure from the premises, Mr. Fletcher was arrested. His actions after leaving our establishment were entirely his own and occurred outside of our control. They do not align with our values as a company, nor do we condone or approve of them in any way. Upon being made aware of the situation, Mr. Fletcher’s employment with Brothers Wright Distilling Co. was immediately terminated. Our company maintains strict policies prohibiting employees from consuming alcohol while working, and we take a proactive and responsible approach to alcohol service for all patrons. Brothers Wright Distilling Co. is committed to building a safe, respectable, and welcoming environment in downtown Pikeville. We take our responsibility to our patrons, our community, and our staff seriously, and we do not believe the actions of one individual should reflect the standards or values of our organization.”
But this was not the Pikeville Police Department’s first run-in with Fletcher. The Pikeville resident was sent to prison following a car accident that killed Amanda Blevins, 32, of Sitka, in 2020.
Fletcher was given shock probation and pleaded to an amended manslaughter charge in August the following year in that case, accepting sentencing for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death without rendering aid. He served six months and was then released on parole. One charge of tampering with physical evidence was dismissed in the plea agreement.
Fletcher has now been charged with third-degree burglary, first-degree wanton endangerment, harassment, menacing, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment in Pike District Court Friday morning.
