Latest news with #Farthing
Global News
5 days ago
- Global News
Bodycam shows lotto winner's arrest day after collecting $167-million prize
Newly-released body camera footage taken from a Florida police officer shows a Kentucky man being arrested for allegedly kicking an investigator in the face during a physical altercation, hours after he collected over US$150 million in lottery winnings. On April 28, James Shannon Farthing, 50, won the lottery's $167.3-million jackpot prize, which he said he would be splitting with his mother, Linda Grizzle. The winnings were the largest ever in Kentucky's history. The day after taking home the jackpot, Shannon Farthing and his girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, were arrested at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Fla., in April, according to court documents obtained by USA Today. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Farthing is accused of punching a fellow resort guest during an argument. A Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy was trying to break up the fight when Farthing kicked him in the face. Story continues below advertisement The footage shows Farthing kicking an officer and initially cooperating with officers during his arrest before attempting to run away and being tackled to the ground. USA Today also reported that Fightmaster was trying to fight other guests on the premises. James Farthing won a record-breaking Powerball jackpot only to be arrested days later at a Florida resort for allegedly kicking a police officer in the face during a bar fight. Newly released bodycam footage shows the intense interaction. — USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) August 13, 2025 'She appeared very intoxicated and was yelling, screaming and making incoherent statements,' the affidavit said, according to the U.S outlet. Farthing, it continued, is charged with one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanour counts of battery and resisting an officer, according to court records. His girlfriend is being charged with one misdemeanour count of disorderly conduct.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Powerball Winner arrested after $167 Million Jackpot win, bodycam footage reveals what happened
Newly released police body camera footage from Florida shows a recent Powerball winner being arrested after allegedly kicking a sheriff's deputy in the face, just a day after he and his mother were celebrated for winning the largest jackpot in Kentucky history. Powerball Winner: Incident at St. Pete Beach Resort The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday released the bodycam video of the April 29 incident at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Deputies had been dispatched to the location following reports of a disturbance involving multiple guests. On arrival, deputies found two men fighting and a woman lying on the ground. The footage appears to show 50-year-old James Farthing, shirtless, in a confrontation with another man before a deputy intervenes to separate them. Moments later, Farthing can be seen allegedly swinging his leg and kicking the deputy in the face, as per a report by Fox News. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's The Estimated Cost of a 1-day Gutter Guards Installation HomeBuddy Click Here Undo Powerball Winner: Deputy's Account and Arrest According to the Sheriff's Office, Farthing had earlier punched another hotel guest during an argument. When the deputy attempted to break up the altercation, Farthing allegedly lashed out with a kick before attempting to run away. Deputies deployed a taser to subdue him, and he was tackled to the ground before being taken into custody. The bodycam recording also captures the injured deputy saying, 'No shirt comes over to kick him, misses and hits me right here,' pointing to his face. Live Events The other man involved in the brawl was also placed in handcuffs. Powerball Winner: Charges Filed Farthing now faces one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor counts, simple battery and resisting an officer, as per the Fox News report. His girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, was also arrested in connection with the incident. She was charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly intoxication after allegedly attempting to start fights with other patrons in the resort bar. Powerball Winner: From Jackpot Celebration to Jail The arrest came less than 24 hours after Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, were publicly named as the winners of a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot, the largest prize ever awarded in Kentucky. Farthing had purchased the $2 winning ticket at a gas station in Georgetown, Kentucky. The ticket matched all numbers drawn, securing the record-breaking prize. Lottery officials said the mother-son duo chose to take the lump sum option, though the final after-tax amount was not disclosed at the time. 'It's going to be a good Mother's Day,' Grizzle had told Kentucky Lottery officials during the announcement. 'This is going to pay off my debt.' Powerball Winner: Criminal Background and Legal Status Farthing's rapid fall from lottery glory to a Florida jail cell is compounded by his extensive criminal history. Reports indicate he has spent a combined 30 years in prison for various offenses across nine Kentucky counties, including charges of assault, bribery, and drug trafficking. He was on parole in Kentucky at the time of the Florida incident. In June, he waived his right to a probable cause hearing and requested to serve the remainder of his sentence. He is expected to be released later this month. Powerball Jackpot Context The April win marked the largest Powerball payout in Kentucky's history and one of the most significant lottery wins in the United States in 2025. The Powerball game, operated across multiple states, often sees jackpots climb into the hundreds of millions, with winners given the choice of 30 annual instalments or a one-time cash payout. Farthing's ticket was part of a draw that attracted millions of entries, with odds of securing the jackpot at approximately 1 in 292.2 million. Powerball Winner: Public Reaction The case has attracted significant attention both in Kentucky, where the jackpot was won, and in Florida, where the arrest took place. Social media reactions ranged from disbelief at the quick reversal of fortunes to criticism over Farthing's behaviour so soon after becoming a multimillionaire. FAQs How much did James Farthing win in the Powerball jackpot? He and his mother won $167.3 million, the largest Powerball prize in Kentucky history. What charges does the Powerball winner face in Florida? Farthing faces one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer, two misdemeanour counts of simple battery, and resisting an officer. His girlfriend faces a misdemeanour charge of disorderly intoxication.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Watch: $167 million Powerball winner arrested after kicking Florida deputy
— stiwari1510 (@stiwari1510) Live Events Companion also arrested for disorderly conduct Incident follows record-breaking lottery win Previous convictions and ongoing sentence (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A recent incident involving a Kentucky Powerball winner has drawn attention after body camera footage released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office appeared to show him kicking a deputy in the face during a confrontation at a Florida Farthing, 50, was arrested on April 29 at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. He was charged with one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer, along with two misdemeanor counts of simple battery and resisting an officer. The footage shows deputies responding to a disturbance and encountering two men fighting, with a woman on the ground said Farthing allegedly punched another hotel guest during an argument. When one of the deputies attempted to intervene, Farthing allegedly kicked him in the face before trying to flee the scene. A taser was deployed, and Farthing was subdued and taken into custody. 'No shirt comes over to kick him, misses and hits me right here,' the deputy is heard saying in the girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, was also arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly intoxication. Authorities stated she was attempting to fight other patrons in the resort arrests occurred shortly after Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, won a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot in Kentucky — the largest ever awarded in the state. Farthing had purchased the winning $2 ticket at a gas station in Georgetown, the time of his arrest in Florida, Farthing was on parole for charges in Kentucky. In June, he waived his right to a probable cause hearing and chose to serve the remainder of his sentence. He is expected to be released later this month. According to reports, Farthing has a long criminal record with convictions in nine Kentucky counties, including offenses such as assault, bribery, and drug trafficking.
USA Today
6 days ago
- USA Today
Bodycam shows Powerball winner being arrested a day after collecting $167M prize
'It's going to be a good Mother's Day,' James Farthing's mother, Linda Grizzle, told lottery officials when they collected the $167 million prize. 'This is going to pay off my debt.' Body camera footage from a Florida police officer shows a Kentucky Powerball jackpot winner, who collected his prize just hours before, getting arrested for allegedly kicking an officer in the face during a fight. James Farthing and his girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, were arrested at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida, in April, according to an arrest affidavit and court records obtained and reviewed by USA TODAY. Farthing, 50, is accused of punching another hotel guest in the face during an argument. A Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy was trying to break up the fight when Farthing kicked him in the face, causing swelling and redness, the affidavit said. Police accuse Farthing of trying to flee the scene. He was apprehended later, as seen in the bodycam footage from April. According to a separate arrest affidavit, Farthing's girlfriend is accused of trying to fight other patrons in the resort bar. 'She appeared very intoxicated and was yelling, screaming and making incoherent statements,' the affidavit reads. Farthing is charged with one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor counts of battery and resisting an officer, according to online court records. Fightmaster is being charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. Farthing's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY. See the bodycam video On April 28, one day before his arrest, Farthing and his mother were announced as the winners of a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot. The jackpot was the largest prize ever won in the history of Kentucky. 'It's going to be a good Mother's Day,' Farthing's mother, Linda Grizzle, told lottery officials. 'This is going to pay off my debt.' Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Powerball winner tackled and tased after kicking Florida deputy in the face
James Farthing, $167.3M Powerball winner who was tased and tackled after kicking a Florida deputy in the head. Photo by Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Florida police just gave a man 167 million reasons why he should not have attacked them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Body-cam footage shows the winner of a $167.3-million Powerball jackpot getting tackled and Tased after kicking a deputy in the head. James Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Ky., was arrested in St. Pete Beach after police were called to the TradeWinds Resort for reports that a man punched a hotel guest in the face, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by WLFA . The newly released video of the April incident shows a deputy rushing to separate the two men, restraining one. Farthing allegedly tries to kick the man being held back, only to kick the deputy in the face instead, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said. 'Are you kidding me?!' the deputy shouts in the video as hotel staff rush in to help the officer. 'I just got kicked,' the stunned deputy could be heard radioing as security guards yelled at Farthing to stand down. The officer then confronts Farthing, ordering him to surrender. RECOMMENDED VIDEO 'Put your hands behind your back right f—ing now. Put your hands behind your back and get against the f—king wall,' the deputy repeats, shoving Farthing to the wall. Farthing tries to flee, prompting the deputy to fire his Taser and another officer to tackle the suspect to the ground, according to the allegations. 'I'm sorry man, please,' Farthing could be heard saying as the officers handcuffed him. 'Save your f—king sorries for later,' the deputy shouted back. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. JUST IN: Powerball jackpot winner tackled and tased after kicking Florida deputy in the face a day after winning $167.3MJames Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was arrested April 29, 2025 Deputies were called to the resort bar after reports of a fight between Farthing and… — Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) August 12, 2025 The video from the April 29 incident came a day after he collected his winnings from Kentucky Lottery. He opted to split the jackpot with his mother as an early Mother's Day gift, it was previously reported. James Farthing (centre), his mother Linda Grizzle (left) and his girlfriend Jacqueline Fightmaster pose with giant cheque after claiming a winning Powerball ticket worth $167.3 million in Kentucky on April 28, 2025. (Kentucky Lottery) Photo by Kentucky Lottery Following his arrest, the Smoking Gun reported Farthing's lengthy criminal record and that he has been labelled a 'persistant felony offender' with multiple convictions across nine counties in Kentucky and locked up in at least 25 correctional facilities, spending 'in aggregate, nearly 30 years in custody.' This time, Farthing was charged with resisting an officer without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, battery, and parole violation. Read More His 42-year-old girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, was charged with disorderly intoxication, according to WFLA . Farthing has pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes. Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists World Toronto & GTA Crime
