Gray man charged with fighting with first responder at crash scene

West Knox Volunteer Fire and Rescue responders were involved in an altercation after arriving to a wreck December 31 with an overturned vehicle. West Knox Fire Chief Daryl Baker, who was trying to help a trapped woman from the vehicle, reported this was “the first altercation I [Baker] have been involved in as a first responder in 30 years.”

According to Sergeant Carl Frith, Knox County Sheriff’s responding officer, Mrya Goforth of Gray was driving a silver Jeep Liberty on 25E near Legacy Auto Dealership in Corbin when her passenger, Jonathan Goforth, 24, of Gray, started an altercation.

“He [Mr. Goforth] reached over and grabbed the steering wheel. This caused the vehicle to shoot off the right shoulder and flip,” said Sergeant Frith.

The vehicle landed in the entrance of Legacy Auto Dealership. There were no reported injuries and no property damage to the dealership.

When West Knox Volunteer Fire Rescue arrived on scene, Mr. Goforth tried to impede first responders from helping Ms. Goforth from the vehicle, which was still on its side. In the process, Mr. Goforth started another altercation with Baker, the Chief of West Knox Fire.

“We got to the vehicle and he was standing at it telling us we weren’t going to cut on it,” said Baker. “I told him to move so we could see what we needed to do to help Ms. Goforth.”

Mr. Goforth then reached out and grabbed Baker’s coat. Firefighters on scene took control of the man and were able to access the vehicle and Ms. Goforth.

“We ended up not cutting on the vehicle. I crawled through the back and helped her [Ms. Goforth] out. She was just in a position, trapped by the steering wheel, where she couldn’t get out on her own,” said Baker.

Neither Baker nor the responding firefighters were injured during the altercation that broke out.

Mr. Goforth was arrested by Sergeant Frith and lodged in the Knox County Detention Center. He is charged with fourth degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment. He was also wanted on a Laurel County warrant.

Knox County EMS assisted West Knox Volunteer Fire Rescue and the Knox County Sheriff’s Department on scene.