‘Dangerous’ suspected Whitley drug dealer captured after violent altercation with police

Jerry M. Fuston

A Kenny Bug Road resident, whom police were seeking on 21 firearms related offenses and whom they considered "armed and dangerous," was arrested Wednesday morning outside his home after a brief, but violent altercation with authorities.

Jerry M. Fuston, 61, is currently recovering at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington following his apprehension by Kentucky State Police Special Response Team tasked with taking him into custody. According to Williamsburg Police Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson, Fuston was grievously injured by a "less-than-lethal" rubber bullet, fired at relatively close range, which shattered his jaw.

"It went through his jaw," Jackson said. "He’s going to have to have major reconstructive surgery to repair his jaw. It was definitely a deadly force type situation."

Members of the KSP team, with Williamsburg police officers, entered the woods and surrounded Fuston’s home at 321 Kenny Bug Road at about 8:55 a.m. Wednesday. When he exited the residence, he was confronted by police, but did not comply with orders to surrender. Instead, authorities day he tossed a large amount of drugs away as he fled on foot. He was reaching into his waistband in an attempt to pull out a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun when he was hit by the less-than-lethal rounds.

"The gun came out of his hand. He was actively attempting to reach the weapon," Jackson said. "It could have ended a lot uglier than it did."

Fuston was first taken to Jellico Community Hospital for treatment, but was transported to Lexington.

According to Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird, a member of the KSP Response Team was bitten on the leg by a police K-9 dog during the altercation and was taken to Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin where he was treated an released.
Officers were at the residence to serve a felony warrant on Fuston, who had been convicted in May of cocaine possession.
Jackson said Fuston is likely one of Whitley County’s "biggest drug dealers," and added that police seized large amounts of prescription painkillers and $1,100 in cash.

"He had Oxycontin, morphine, hydrocodone …. you name it," Jackson said. "This guy has been a known drug dealer here in Whitley County for years."

Police became interested in Fuston on July 8 following a traffic stop of two Ohio men on US 25W in southern Whitley County. Whitley County Deputy Sheriff Adam Jarboe stopped the vehicle after receiving a report from the county’s 911 Dispatch Center that it possibly contained a large amount of narcotics. The vehicle, coming from Ohio, was allegedly bringing drugs to a location on Lola Powell Road, court documents revealed.

Jarboe stopped the vehicle near Pleasant View Grocery, and asked for assistance from Williamsburg police prompting officers Brandon Prewitt and Sgt. Mike Taylor to respond.

Prewitt charged the driver, John P. De Jesus Jr., 37, of Fairborn, Ohio, with carrying a concealed deadly weapon, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana. He charged the passenger, Michael L. Hyslope, 46, of Dayton, Ohio, with being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, and first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Police found a loaded revolver underneath the front seat of the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Hyslope told police that he had purchased the .38 caliber Smith and Wesson from Fuston, and that Fuston gave him three Hydrocodone pills and four Xanax pills when he purchased the gun, according to his arrest citation.

Police discovered $933 cash on Hyslope and an 80-mg Oxycodone pill underneath the driver’s seat, according to arrest citations.

A text message that police discovered stated that the drop had been made, but that a pick up couldn’t be made until the next day, according to Hyslope’s arrest citation.

Police obtained a search warrant, which they served at Fuston’s residence.

When Fuston saw police pull into the driveway, he fled into the woods on foot, Prewitt said.

In the camper where Fuston was staying, police discovered two loaded revolvers underneath his pillow, Prewitt said.
Police recovered a total of 11 handguns and 10 long guns in the form of either shotguns or rifles, Prewitt said.

Since Fuston is a convicted felon, police immediately sought a warrant for his arrest.

Jackson said KSP was asked for assistance on the most recent attempt to arrest Fuston because had been combative with police in the past. He said authorities also found photos in Fuston’s residence during a search earlier this month that depicted him in various intimidating poses holding different kinds of guns.

"There’s a lot of people in the community that are very afraid of him," Jackson said. "I had a standoff myself with him about six months ago. It was a bad situation. The KSP Response Team is trained to handle that kind of stuff and they do it all the time so we felt like it was a good idea to ask for their help."