FEBRUARY 17, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
ADULT TEENAGE CRIMINAL HOODLUM: DEVIN WELLS, 19, OF PAINTSVILLE, KENTUCKY.
According to the Paintsville Police Department, they were called to an address on Pine Street reporting the break-in. The caller reported seeing a man running away with his weedeater, but said he dropped it near Broadway and continued running.
Police found the suspect, who was later identified as Devin Wells, 19, of Paintsville. KY., at a nearby gas station and tried to talk to him, but said he ran away instead. Devin Wells was arrested after a short chase, but that wasn’t the end of the story.
Officers said as Devin Wells was being taken to jail, he slipped out of his handcuffs and began kicking on the window to try to break it. Paintsville Police Department officer Justin Jackson pulled over to try to secure him, but officer Jackson said Devin Wells kicked him in the face and struck him several other times in the face and body. He was finally handcuffed again after the officer used pepper spray.
Devin Wells now faces the total following charges of:
*ALCOHOL INTOXICATION IN A PUBLIC PLACE (1ST & 2ND OFFENSE);
*FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 3RD DEGREE;
*ESCAPE 3RD DEGREE;
*ASSAULT 3RD DEGREE-POLICE OFFICER OR PROBATION OFFICER;
*RESISTING ARREST;
*DISORDERLY CONDUCT, 2ND DEGREE;
*MENACING.
Devin Wells is currently being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, in Paintsville.
