At the April meeting of Russell County Fiscal Court a week ago Monday night, Russell County Jailer Bobby Dunbar explained that he had received a letter from the Department of Corrections that officials would be interviewing inmates in the coming weeks for possible early release.

The release program is focused on drug offenders and is the result of budget restraints, Dunbar noted. If they are released they would then be enrolled in a substance abuse program.

“This is a scary letter, or email, to me,” Dunbar said, saying officials have interviewed 10 inmates so far and that it may cut into the number of state inmates the detention center keeps and receives reimbursement for, or “paying customers, as Dunbar puts it.

He reassured the court that he will continue to work hard to make known to other counties that we are able to house any excess inmate population.

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A forklift spotted in the middle of the road a week ago Sunday morning has led to the arrest of a Russell County man.

Dispatch received a call around 3 a.m. last Sunday morning reporting that a forklift had been abandoned at east Hwy. 80 and Hwy. 910.

When police responded and having the forklift towed, a man walked up requesting a ride to Cumberland Lodge.

Later in the morning, sheriff’s deputies received information that a fence was down at Stephen’s Pipe and Steel on Bernard Ridge and a forklift was missing.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Justin Morefield, 28, of Russell Springs, the seemingly innocent bystander who had asked police for a ride.

After further investigation he confessed to having kicked in the doors of Town & Country Hair Salon and stealing a number of items, as well as damaging the entrances to two other rental units at the location.

Morefield was being held in Russell County Detention Center on the following charges: two counts of third degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking over $500 and first degree criminal mischief.

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A Russell County man was arrested a week ago Monday after leading police on a 40-mile chase through Anderson and Mercer counties, according to a release by Kentucky State Police.

Dallas Cory Crawford, age 38, of Russell Springs, was driving a 1991 Ford Taurus when pulled over for driving without a seat belt while heading southward on U.S. 127 south of Lawrenceburg.

After the initial stop it was determined that Crawford had an outstanding warrant. After attempting the arrest, Crawford resisted and fled the scene at a high rate of speed, the release said.

The subsequent pursuit ended some 40 miles later in Mercer County after a moving roadblock set up by Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputies resulted in Crawford striking a deputy’s vehicle and then losing control of his vehicle, wrecking on Bohon Road.

Crawford was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Detention Center on charges of fleeing and evading police, three counts of wanton endangerment, assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, reckless driving, careless driving, no seat belt, speeding and other minor traffic violations in both counties.