JOSEPH RAMEY. Photo courtesy of Hardin County Detention Center.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Joseph Ramey, a constable of Barren County District 7, was arrested on July 28 by the Kentucky State Police Post 4 for various misdemeanor and felony charges.
Ramey was arrested for six charges including “impersonating a peace officer” and first degree wanton endangerment. Those two charges are categorized as felonies while the other four, first degree official misconduct, following an emergency vehicle too closely, using flashing lights on his vehicle and failure to give right of way, are listed as misdemeanors.
Glasgow News 1 recently acquired Ramey’s citation and complaint warrant through an open records request, filed with the KSP, that details the cause of his charges.
According to the complaint warrant on July 25, Ramey “participated in a pursuit of a wanted subject on Interstate 65” in a Honda Odyssey minivan equipped with red, green and amber flashing lights. The pursuit occurred in Hardin County.
Ramey, who is an elected official in Barren County and who has no “police powers or authority,” caused interference for the police cars also in pursuit of the wanted individual at times “cutting off marked police cars.” Ramey, at one point in the chase, also prevented Trooper Evan Smith from entering the pursuit, the complaint warrant states.
Through these actions, Ramey “engaged in conduct that placed police officers at substantial risk of death or serious injury.”
The warrant also states that Ramey traveled in the emergency lane and the shoulder in order to maintain his position in the pursuit.
In addition to the pursuit, the warrant also states that Ramey portrayed himself as a police officer by having a magnetic five-pointed star, that resembled the sheriff’s badge, stuck to the side of his van.
According to the Hardin County Detention Center, Ramey was released on July 31 on a “partially secured” bond of $10,000.
This is not the only arrest record Ramey has. He was arrested earlier this year, Jan. 1, for fourth degree assault and first degree unlawful imprisonment by the Glasgow Police Department after officers responded to a call of a domestic dispute. He was also arrested by the GPD in 2017 for “custodial interference.”
As of now Ramey is still a constable in Barren County District 7, a 4-year term according to the Legislative Research Commission, having been elected in 2022 with 829 votes.
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Barren County constable arrested by the KSP on various charges
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