A Wayne County man perished in a house fire on Thursday, January 30. Ricky Fairchild, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:25 p.m., according to Wayne County Coroner Forrest Hicks.
The Monticello Fire Department was dispatched to the residential fire on West KY 90 about a mile outside the city limits at approximately 12:52 p.m.
The initial call to the 911 center indicated that someone was inside the residence.
Monticello Fire Chief Steve Ferrell said that the EMS unit was the first to arrive on the scene, noting that the residence was “heavily involved” in fire at the time.
Firefighters made entry to the residence and found the victim in the bedroom.
The coroner’s office was notified at approximately 1:12 p.m., according to Hicks.
He indicated that Fairchild was reported to have serious health issues and limited mobility.
Hicks said the victim was apparently unable to leave the residence before becoming unconscious due to heat and smoke inhalation.
Ferrell said there were no other occupants at the residence at the time of the fire. The Monticello Fire Department remained on the scene until approximately 10:30 p.m.
The State Fire Marshal and Kentucky State Police were both notified of the fatal fire and were at the scene on Thursday, according to Ferrell.
At this point, he indicated the cause of the fire has not been determined, but no foul play is suspected.
Officials are looking at a couple of different places of origin.
Also assisting at the scene were the Susie Fire Department and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.
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A local man who police had been seeking for several weeks was apprehended on Friday, January 31 in Cosby, Tennessee.
According to Wayne County Sheriff Charles Boston, Douglas MacArthur Young, also known as John Young, was arrested following a joint investigation by U.S. Marshals and sheriff’s department and the Monticello Police Department.
Young was wanted by multiple agencies in multiple jurisdictions, according to Boston.
Young had been indicted recently by the local grand jury for criminal attempt to commit murder, wanton endangerment first degree and persistent felony offender second degree.
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred December 19 in Monticello.
Boston said that Young was arrested without incident.
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A former Monticello Police officer was arrested last week and charged with bribery of a public servant.
Allen Braden, 40, was arrested on Tuesday, January 28.
According to documents filed in Wayne Circuit Court, Braden, while serving as a police officer, allegedly provided information to an accused drug dealer about details of investigations into drug activities.
The document alleges that Braden provided Lee Floyd Bebley, of Monticello, with detailed information about the home addresses, vehicles and families of agents investigating Bebley.
It also alleges he provided information to Bebley about which police officers were working at particular times and when and where they were looking for Bebley.
In return for the information, court documents state that Braden was paid $100 per week, sometimes in cash and sometimes in drugs. Bebley was arrested by the Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force on Friday, January 24 and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance first degree and trafficking in a controlled substance second degree.
According to Monticello Police Chief Ralph Miniard, the arrest came following a lengthy investigation that began in August 2013. Braden was also charged with theft by unlawful taking.
Police said that after his termination as a police officer in October 2013, Braden failed to turn in a 27 Glock pistol he was issued by the department.