Whitley man arrested for threatening family members with gun

A Whitley County man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he threatened family members with a gun.

Justice D. King, 72, of Coal Stone is facing charges of first-degree wanton endangerment and resisting arrest.

According to Sheriff Colan Harrell, deputies were called to the scene in response to a complaint of a man chasing another man through a field with a pistol.

When Deputy Brian Lawson arrived on the scene, he reportedly saw King walking down Ky. 904 with a gun in his hand.

“Mr. King threw the pistol over the hill when he spotted the deputy and the deputy began giving him verbal commands to show his hands,” Harrell stated.

However, King did not comply with Lawson’s commands.

Neighbors told deputies that King had chased the victim, Neddie Rogers, to their house, where King allegedly waived a pistol at Rogers, Rogers’ wife and their children.

Officials at the sheriff’s office said Rogers is the husband of King’s adopted daughter.

Patterson Creek firefighters were called to the scene to aid in the search for the pistol, which has been recovered.
Lt. Millard Root also assisted at the scene.

King is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash bond.