Laurel Deputy uses Tazer to end scuffle with suspect

 A London man who had successfully eluded law enforcement in Fayette County was unable to outrun Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Mikey Ashurst and his Tazer early Wednesday morning.

Thirty-four-year-old David C. Philpot, reportedly admitted to being high on methamphetamine when he tried to run from Ashurst in and around the Pilot Travel Center in North Corbin.

According to Sheriff John Root, Ashurst was called to the truck stop about 12:30 a.m. in response to a complaint of a suspicious individual who had been in the store for more than two hours.

“When Deputy Ashurst arrive, the male subject ran out a side door and around the building,” Root stated, noting Philpot ran behind David’s Steak House next door. “An employees of David’s Steak House assisted Deputy Ashurst in boxing the suspect in, and after a brief, scuffle, the subject was arrested.”

Philpot was cuffed and led toward Ashurst’s cruiser. However, Root stated that was not the end of the incident, as Philpot began cursing and refused to comply with Ashurst’s commands. As Philpot was being placed in the cruiser, he reportedly slipped one hand out of the handcuffs and tried to push Ashurst to the ground and then fled the scene.

Root stated that Ashurst chased Philpot down and wrestled him to the ground. When Philpot continued to fight, Ashurst deployed his Tazer to get Philpot under control.

Philpot reportedly told deputies that he had smoked meth and had not slept for seven days.

Deputies found a glass smoking pipe in Philpot’s possession.

Philpot was charged with second-degree fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, menacing, second-degree disorderly conduct, public intoxication – controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and third-degree escape.

In addition, Philpot has an outstanding warrant from Laurel County for failure to appear in court.

Philpot is also wanted in Fayette County on two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer and first-degree fleeing or evading police (in a motor vehicle).

Philpot is being held in the Laurel County Correctional Facility on a $25,000 cash bond.