The man who caused a 10-hour standoff with Frankfort and state police thought he killed a police officer during the confusion at Salem Square Apartments last week, says a prosecutor.
When William Durham, 59, emerged from his apartment he said, “Sorry for killing the cop,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Larry Cleveland said Wednesday.
“He thought he killed somebody,” Cleveland said.
Durham was indicted Wednesday and charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of wanton endangerment, according to the indictment.
He was arrested March 29 at the apartment complex on East Fourth Street after he barricaded himself inside his apartment and fired shots, Cleveland said.
The standoff began when a neighbor called police after she saw him load a shotgun outside his apartment building.
Police arrived at the scene to conduct a well-being check on Durham and his neighbors. However, Durham told authorities to leave before he entered his apartment where he had at least two shotguns, officials said.
Over the course of the standoff, Durham allegedly fired three shots from his residence. No one was injured.
Frankfort and state police used irritation gas in an attempt to force him out of the apartment until he emerged hours later, Maj. Fred Deaton said after the arrest.
Durham’s family was in the courthouse conference room Tuesday for Durham’s district court video arraignment, and they asked Franklin District Judge Chris Olds what to do about his medical records.
Durham has been diagnosed as a schizophrenic, his brother said.
Cleveland says Durham will be evaluated at the soonest opportunity to determine his competency to stand trail and to properly medicate him.
Durham committed three counts of attempted murder when he “intentionally fired a gun at Frankfort Police Officer Mike Wells, … Lt. Walter Martin, … and Officer Rick Turner,” according to the indictment. He committed two counts of wanton endangerment for purposely putting officers Todd Smither and Scott Tracy in danger, according to the indictment.
Durham is lodged at Franklin County Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Also indicted by grand jury Wednesday was 25-year-old Timothy Johnson of Junction City for assault and two counts of wanton endangerment after a “drug deal goes bad,” Cleveland says.
Johnson and Justin Lea were in the Kroger parking lot on Lawrenceburg Road when a drug deal went sour March 15.
“The victim starts to leave when Timmy Johnson rams his car into the victim’s car,” Cleveland said.
Johnson continued to follow Lea on westbound Interstate 64 and fired shots at Lea’s vehicle, Cleveland said.
Lea was shot in the side of the arm, and it was a flesh wound, Cleveland said.
The incident continued for a 10-mile stretch, police said after the incident, until Lea and a passenger, Lynnda Thams, pulled off the interstate at exit 43 toward Waddy where the chase ended.
Lea was treated and released from University of Louisville hospital, according to police reports.
Johnson is lodged at Franklin County Regional Jail on a $35,000 bond, according to the jail website.
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