Suspect’s family contacted sheriff’s office before chase
The family of the man who is accused of stealing a pickup truck, running from police, ramming patrol cars and ultimately getting shot by a deputy, called the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office the day before concerned about the man’s mental state.
Officers say John Fennwick, 25, is well-known to law enforcement.
They say Sunday he was shot by a Nelson County sheriff deputy after a police chase that wrecked three squad cars.
The Bardstown Police Chief says officers were chasing Fennwick, who was in a pickup truck he says Fennwick stole.
He says Fennwick threw the truck in reverse, backing into the officers behind him and hit one of the cruisers with such force it caught fire.
A Bardstown police officer and a Nelson County deputy both fired shots at Fennwick according to State Police.
All three officers in the chase, two from the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office and a Bardstown Police Officer, have minor injuries.
The Nelson County Sheriff says just 24-hours earlier, Fennwick’s family contacted his office concerned about a possible mental illness.
The sheriff says his deputies talked with Fennwick who seemed calm, coherent and not aggressive.
”If we got into a situation where you came up and say that guys crazy take him to the hospital we can’t just operate off of that. The officer, to make an arrest, has to witness those things and this particular situation he did not witness those things in order to take him into custody,” said Sheriff Ed Mattingly.
Following procedure, the officers are on paid administrative leave.
They say Fenniwck is in serious but stable condition at university Hospital in Louisville.
State Police are investigating.
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