Decision could come this week on criminal charges for W’burg officer

Williamsburg Police Officer Brad Nighbert could soon learn whether he will face criminal or administrative charges stemming from an April 12 on duty crash.
A toxicology analysis report of Nighbert’s blood, which was taken at 1:30 a.m. on April 13 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, showed that he had 0.001 milligrams of cocaine in his system, and 0.007 milligrams of Oxycodone.
Special prosecutor Thomas Smith, an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Madison and Clark County, said the case is in the process of being reviewed and that he hopes to make a decision this week on whether to present the case to the Whitley County Grand Jury.
“I have talked with the investigating officer. No decision has been made on where to go from here at this point. I am still reviewing the information that I have,” Smith said Monday afternoon.
Williamsburg Police Chief Denny Shelley also said Monday afternoon that he is in the process of wrapping up his internal investigation, and hopes to conclude it in the next week to 10 days.
On April 12, Nighbert was on duty and traveling southbound on US25W near Cumberland Regional Mall when he struck a minivan driven by Connie Jackson of Ky. 92E about 10:33 p.m.
Nighbert was pinned inside the vehicle as a result of the collision. Members of the Williamsburg Fire Department had to extricate Nighbert from his cruiser.
He was airlifted from the scene, and flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center where he underwent a four-hour surgery to fix his leg.
Trooper Greg Hill, the accident reconstructionist investigating the accident, appeared before the Whitley County Grand Jury last month for 10 minutes to obtain grand jury subpoenas for both Nighbert and Jackson’s medical records.
Nighbert is still employed by the Williamsburg Police Department, but is currently off on medical leave drawing workman’s compensation from injuries he suffered during the accident.
In February, the city council approved the first reading of a zero tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use in the workplace.
The ordinance called for any city employees caught using or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while on duty to be terminated on their first offense. The ordinance also allows for random drug testing of employees and drug testing if someone is suspected of being under the influence, or is involved in an accident, or an incident where someone is injured.
Nighbert is the son of Kentucky Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert, who is a former Williamsburg Mayor.