Photo credit:Pulaski County Sheriff's Office
SOMERSET, KY - Sheriff Greg Speck reporting that on Sunday, February 27, 2022, at 3:09 PM, Deputy Trent Massey saw a Chrysler 200 passenger car run a stop sign at the intersection of East Highway 80 and Sycamore Street.
He started following the car and observed him driving erratically, swerving, and crossing the white fog line on the shoulder of the roadway. He turned on his emergency equipment and stopped the car on the shoulder of the Eastbound Lane of KY 80 at Pumphouse Road.
Before Deputy Massey could get out of his car the driver quickly pulled back out onto KY 80 going east. The car sped up to over 90 MPH and ran the red light at east Highway 80 and KY 914 while oncoming traffic was attempting to turn left onto KY 914.
The suspect vehicle then continued Eastbound still exceeding the speed limit. He then stopped at Eastway Market and a passenger got out of the car.
The passenger, Clarence Awesome Lee, age 34, of Ocala Road Somerset, KY was contacted by Deputy Massey and determined to be wanted on warrants and was placed under arrest.
L to R: Devin Owens and Clarence Awesome Lee - Photos credit: Pulaski County Detention Center
Mr. Lee identified the driver of the vehicle as Devin Owens. Devin Owens is 28 years old and has an address of Forrest Avenue, Danville, Kentucky. Mr. Lee also told that, during the pursuit, Mr. Owens handed him an AR-15 and told him to begin shooting at Deputy Massey who was pursuing them. Mr. Lee told Deputy Massey that Mr. Owens had the AR-15 and two handguns inside the vehicle.
He also told Deputy Massey that Mr. Owens was wearing body armor.
Clarence Lee was charged with:
- NON-PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS, FEES OR FINES
- NON-PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS, FEES OR FINES
- PROBATION VIOLATION (FOR TECHNICAL VIOLATION)
This individual was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.
Deputies had lost visual on the fleeing car, but 911 received a call that the car had ran through a vinyl fence off Barnesburg Road.
The Somerset Police Department then located the car at the Quality Inn in Somerset and noted a significant amount of damage to it.
Deputies were able to get camera footage at the Quality Inn showing Mr. Owens carrying a handgun inside the hotel and a female carrying a rifle.
After a brief standoff, Captain Troy McLin, was able to convince Mr. Owens to come out of his hotel room and surrender. He was then placed under arrest.
Located in the hotel room were two handguns and the rifle. It was also determined that Mr. Owens was a convicted felon out of Indiana.
Devin Owens was initially charged with the following:
- Disregarding a Stop Sign
- Reckless Driving
- Disregarding a Traffic Controlled Device – Traffic Light
- Speeding 26 MPH or more over the Speed Limit
- Fleeing or Evading Police, 1st Degree (Motor Vehicle)
- Wanton Endangerment – 1st Degree
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon
- Criminal Mischief, 1st Degree
Mr. Owens was also served a bench warrant out of Washington County, Kentucky for Contempt of Court. This related to a 2019 court case in that county.
After Mr. Owens arrest, Deputies with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, led by Deputy Trent Massey, served a search warrant at the room previously occupied by Mr. Owens and his wife and three children.
The search warrant also included the car that Mr. Owens was driving, the one being pursued.
Located during the search were two plastic bags of suspected Methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle, one bag weighed approximately 54.4 grams and the other weighed approximately 52.3 grams. Also located were approximately 3.5 grams of suspected Marijuana in the driver’s seat and a set of digital scales.
In the hotel room were located numerous empty plastic baggies, a bag of suspected marijuana weighing approximately 23.5 grams, two marijuana pipes and rolling papers.
As a result of the search warrant, Mr. Owens was charged with the following:
- Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, 1st Degree, 1st Offense (more than two grams of Methamphetamine) Firearms Enhancement
- Possession of Marijuana
- Drug Paraphernalia – Buy-Possession
This individual was lodged the Pulaski County Detention Center.
This investigation continues by Deputy Trent Massey.
Sheriff Greg Speck asked that if you have any information about drug activity or any crime, contact our office at 606-678-5145. You can remain anonymous. You can also leave a tip on our webpage at http://www.pulaskisheriff.com
