Whitley County man charged with shooting, beating and holding woman prisoner

Corbin Police arrested a Whitley County man wanted in connection with a shooting that was reported Sunday afternoon in the Devil’s Creek community.

Fifty-three-year-old Michael A Morris is facing charges of first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful imprisonment.

Corbin Police Captain Coy Wilson, the department’s public affairs officer, said officers received an anonymous tip about 9 p.m. Monday that Morris was driving west on the Corbin bypass in a white Toyota Camry.

Acting on the information, Lt. Jason Moore located the vehicle as it turned off the bypass onto U.S. 25W and initiated a traffic stop near the Army reserve center.

Wilson said Moore took Morris into custody without and incident.

Despite reports that Morris should be considered armed and dangerous, Moore reported finding no gun or other weapons on Morris.

Morris is being held without bond in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies began searching for Morris after receiving a 911 call from the woman he allegedly shot, beat and held captive.

Sheriff Colan Harrell said Morris and the woman were boyfriend-girlfriend and that the woman lived at the residence

Deputy Joe Prewitt responded to the call about 2 p.m.

“The victim said that when Morris left the location, she was able to contact 911,” Harrell stated.

“We don’t know why he left,” Harrell added.

The woman told deputies that she had been shot and beaten Saturday but Morris kept her from seeking medical attention.

Harrell said that the woman had been shot once in the left arm and once in the left leg with a .22-caliber pistol and then beat with the gun and with fists.

“We haven’t recovered the gun,” Harrell said.

Harrell stated that the victim was initially taken to Baptist Health Corbin and then transported by ambulance to the University of Kentucky Medical Center were she is listed in stable condition.