Machete, Bible-Wielding Man Tased, Arrested After Altercation

William Thomas Smith (39) of Cave City.

Man Accused Of Throwing Machete and Bible At Deputies Before Altercation

Darren Doyle, story:
While the headline seems more along the lines of a Halloween-themed movie, deputies say the incident was very real, and a man was arrested on multiple felony charges.

According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to the 20000 block of Louisville Road on Saturday, October 17th around 3pm to the report of a male subject that was waving a machete at passing traffic. As deputies arrived, they reported observing a male at the back end of a gravel drive in a corn field and as the male saw law enforcement, he raised the machete over his head in what was described as "an aggressive manner."

According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies announced themselves as law enforcement and gave a verbal command for the male subject to drop the machete; instead, the subject allegedly threw the machete at the deputy’s vehicle and fled into the cornfield on foot.

We spoke to one of the deputies involved in the incident who said they drove their patrol truck closer to the suspect where the suspect then threw a bible at their vehicle.

"We drove closer to him after he'd thrown the machete at us, and after we'd told him multiple times over our truck PA to stop," said the deputy. "That's when he threw a bible at us and screamed "do you have a problem with Jesus?""

The Sheriff's Office said that multiple verbal commands were given to the male subject to get on the ground, but when a deputy attempted to place the subject in handcuffs, the subject reportedly rolled over and grabbed the deputy’s duty belt and protective vest in multiple attempts to pull him down to the ground.  The subject allegedly refused to adhere to verbal commands given by law enforcement, grabbed the deputy’s protective vest a second time, and the deputy deployed his taser twice before the subject was finally subdued.

After being placed in handcuffs, Sheriff’s Deputies identified the subject as William Thomas Smith (39) of Cave City (Edmonson County), who was wanted on three outstanding warrants, stemming from charges out of Barren and Warren Counties. Deputies also said Smith was under the influence of an unknown substance. 

He was ​arrested on the outstanding warrants as well as new charges that included:

• Fleeing or Evading Police—2nd Degree (on foot)
• Assault 3rd Degree—Police Office or Probation Officer
• Resisting Arrest

Smith was lodged in Hart County Jail.