LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES:
MARTIN COUNTY, KY. MAN ARRESTED AFTER HIS ‘MESSAGE OF LOVE’ GRAFFITI VANDALISM SPREE AT MOTEL IN INEZ
FOLLOWS UP BY TAINTING OF HIS LOVE PREACHING AT THE REGIONAL JAIL IN JOHNSON COUNTY BY GIVING “GLASGOW KISS” (HEAD-BUTTING) TO KENTUCKY STATE POLICE TROOPER
APRIL 10, 2024 – written by WADE QUEEN
LOVESICK: WILLIAM H. PREECE, 57, OF INEZ, KENTUCKY WAS ARRESTED ON SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 6, AFTER HE WENT ON A SPREE SPREADING HIS MESSAGE OF LOVE, BY SPRAY PAINTING GRAFFITI ON A MOTEL AND CAR IN THE PARKING LOT IN INEZ; SHORTLY LATER HE GOT A FELONY CHARGE AFTER STRIKING A STATE POLICE TROOPER AT THE BIG SANDY REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER IN PAINTSVILLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY.
A Martin County, Kentucky man who was already arrested and on his way to jail after being arrested for an act of vandalism early this past Saturday morning, found himself in even deeper trouble, for allegedly assaulting a state trooper.
Kentucky State Police Post 9-Pikeville troopers responded to a distress call around 12:30 A.M., on Saturday, April 6 .The caller reported an intoxicated individual trying to break the windows out of cars and spray-painting cars at the Brookshire Inn motel on Blacklog Road in Inez.
Upon arrival at the scene, KSP Post 9 troopers Trevor Spurlock and Kyle Amburgey immediately observed the word “LOVE” spray-painted in black across the motel’s exterior and all over a car in the parking lot.
Both troopers then found the suspect, who was identified as William H. Preece, 57, of Inez, at the scene with “watery and bloodshot eyes.”
When both troopers questioned William Preece about it, he allegedly told both of the troopers he painted the car and building “in the name of love”.
“Mr. Preece was very sped up with his speech and all over the place when trying to speak with myself and trooper Amburgey,” wrote trooper Spurlock, who was the arresting officer stated in the police report.
William Preece was arrested on misdemeanor charges of:
- DISORDERLY CONDUCT, 2ND DEGREE;
- CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 3RD DEGREE; and
- PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL).
While being transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville in Johnson County by the troopers, William Preece told both officers distinctly what were his immediate future plans that he was going to commit.
“During transport, Mr. Preece stated without question that he would kick my back window out if I did not turn my emergency lights on,” Trooper Spurlock wrote in the arrest report. “Mr. Preece also stated that once we got to the jail, it would not be good.”
And apparently, William Preece was a man of his word, and kept to his promises, and then some.
Once William Preece arrived at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville, trooper Spurlock said he attempted to kick the window out of the police car, wouldn’t cooperate with attempts to take him into the jail, and finally he head-butted (‘ala a scottish kiss’) one of the state troopers. The police arrest report says William Preece told the trooper he head butted he wanted to knock his hat off.
Adding to those actions, William Preece allegedly directed “sexual comments” toward both of the troopers.
William Preece was then additionally charged with:
- ASSAULT 3RD DEGREE-POLICE OFFICER OR PROBATION OFFICER, a class D felony, punishable by one (1) to five (5) years in prison.