Latest news with #WHAS11
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrity Chef Takes Plea Deal in Strangulation Case
A celebrity chef has taken a plea deal in an assault case involving his then-estranged wife. Darnell Ferguson, a five-time contestant on Tournament of Champions, was arrested in January 2024 on seven criminal charges, including burglary, strangulation, terroristic threatening, assault, menacing, criminal mischief and theft-receipt of a stolen credit or debit card, according to WHAS 11. The Louisville news network reported at the time that Ferguson was accused of illegally entering a then-unnamed woman's house and strangling her until she passed out, and threatening to kill her. The woman was later revealed to be his then-estranged wife, Tatahda Ferguson, with whom the chef shares eight children. He pleaded not guilty at the time, and his wife later said in a statement that she thought law enforcement "twisted" her words. "I reacted in the heat of the moment after we had an intense argument, and called the police for a matter that really didn't warrant their involvement," said Tatahda's statement. "I believe my words were twisted by certain law enforcement officials who arelooking to make a name for themselves at the expense of my husband's celebrity status. Darnell is a good man! I have never felt unsafe or threatened by him and he hasalways been an incredible father to our children. It hurts my heart the way he's being vilified. I am coming forward to try and do what's right to clear his name and help our family heal." Ferguson is a local celebrity in Kentucky for his now-closed SuperChefs restaurant, in addition to his various Food Network and Today appearances. He has advanced as high as the final four in Tournament of Champions, back in season 2 where he was defeated by eventual champion, . Ferguson's case was scheduled to come to trial in May 2025, but the chef instead reached a plea agreement with the prosecutors. WLKY reports that as part of his plea deal, several charges were lowered, and he was sentenced to 12 months for the criminal mischief charge, but the jail time was "conditionally discharged for two years," which means Ferguson will not serve jail time unless a further offense is committed within the stated period of time. The police department that arrested Ferguson released its own statement after the plea deal, responding to Tatahda's assertion that they misinterpreted the situation. "In this particular case, our officers acted professionally and with the seriousness the situation deserved. We did not embellish or manufacture any aspect of the investigation. All charges and findings were based solely on the facts and evidence presented to us. "We appreciate that Mr. Ferguson accepted some responsibility for his actions that day. Our hope is that he and his family are able to find healing and peace as they move forward. We remain committed to supporting all individuals impacted by domestic violence and to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ky. Man Allegedly Bit Cat's Ear Off, Then Hid Under Blankets When Cops Came: Police
Zachary Rollins, 22, faces three felony counts of torture of a cat or dog, a charge that carries a prison sentence of one to five years in Kentucky His girlfriend called police on Saturday to report that Rollins was intoxicated and had allegedly bitten her cat's ear off; he allegedly hid under blankets from police when they arrived Rollins' girlfriend allegedly produced a Facebook message that he had sent to his mother in which he told her that the animal "bit him first" A Kentucky man is facing felony charges after allegedly biting off a cat's ear during a domestic dispute. Zachary L. Rollins, 22, was charged with one felony count of torture of a cat or dog following the incident on Saturday, per an arrest citation reviewed by LEX 18, WHAS 11 and the Lexington Herald Leader. Pulaski County deputies responded to a home on Skyview Drive in Russell Springs, Ky., around 3 p.m. after a woman reported that her intoxicated boyfriend had bitten her cat's ear off. When officers arrived, Rollins was reportedly found hiding under blankets in bed. He allegedly refused to speak with deputies outside and was subsequently handcuffed inside the residence. The woman provided officers with photos of the injured cat and a screenshot of a Facebook message in which Rollins allegedly admitted to the act. In the message to his mother, Rollins claimed he bit the cat's ear off because it had bitten him first, per the citation. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. When questioned by police, Rollins allegedly admitted to sending the message but denied biting the cat, saying instead that he had "tossed it" after being bitten. Following his arrest, authorities issued a separate warrant related to the deaths of two other cats in April, according to a press release from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. Rollins now faces three felony charges and is being held at Pulaski County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 21, per online court records. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Louisville woman paid $1K for truck at police auction — but when it was delivered, valuable items were missing
In 2023, Emily Howell bid $1,026 on a 1996 GMC Sierra listed for auction by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) — largely because the photos showed a kayak, fishing poles and a toolbox she was interested in. But when the truck was delivered she says all those items were gone. Her experience now appears to be part of a larger problem at the LMPD tow lot, with employees having allegedly removed items from impounded cars before they went to auction. Howell calls it theft, but the law might not be so clear. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) "You don't steal from people, you don't take things that aren't yours," Howell told WHAS11 News. "Surely when you sign on for a job like that, you have to sign some paperwork that says, 'Hey, we don't steal from the community.'' An internal police investigation found that civilian employees at the Louisville tow lot were captured on surveillance video taking items from cars slated for auction. In footage from June 11, 2024, obtained by WHAS11, an on-duty lot attendant and a woman in street clothes can be seen walking through the "auction corral" and opening several vehicles. At one point, the lot attendant leaves the frame carrying a suitcase they did not enter with. Another employee is also seen rifling through other vehicles. An LMPD spokesperson provided the following statement to WHAS11: "The screenshots you provided depict two civilian tow lot employees taking items from vehicles in the LMPD tow lot prior to auction. When LMPD became aware of this incident last year, we immediately launched a criminal investigation through our Public Integrity Unit (PIU). The PIU conducted a lengthy investigation, reviewing surveillance videos and conducting interviews. Following this investigation, the PIU referred the case to the Jefferson County Attorney's Office (JCAO), which ultimately recommended that criminal charges not be filed. After examining all the evidence, the JCAO determined a conviction on any criminal charge was unlikely. However, this case remains an open and active internal investigation within LMPD." The county attorney's letter, obtained by WHAS11, identified one man and one woman as the subjects of the investigation but did not provide specific reasons for declining to file charges. At this time, it appears no employees have been fired or disciplined, reports WHAS11. And when asked for a statement by the news channel, LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey declined to comment on specifics, citing an ongoing internal investigation. Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis According to WHAS11, Kentucky law and Louisville Metro codes state that vehicles impounded for 45 days become government property. However, ownership of personal items inside the cars remains a gray area. Local ordinances allow original owners to retrieve personal belongings until the auction sale is finalized. After that, unclaimed items may become the property of the government or the buyer, depending on local policy. This lack of clarity can create situations like Howell's, where buyers assume the car and everything inside it will be theirs, only to find valuable items missing. There is no federal law that clearly states whether personal items inside auctioned vehicles must be included in the sale. Federal auction partners typically sell items "As-Is/Where-Is", meaning buyers receive the vehicle and whatever is inside at the time of sale, unless the listing specifies otherwise. Buying a car at auction can sometimes feel like winning the lottery, but buyers need to do their homework to avoid disappointment. Understand who owns the car's contents at auction. Some cities allow original owners to claim items up until the moment of sale; others may automatically include personal property with the vehicle. If you are bidding on a vehicle because of specific items pictured inside it, like Howell did, contact the auctioning agency before placing your bid. Ask whether those items are guaranteed to come with the vehicle. If an auction house or government agency says items are included, try to get that in writing. Verbal assurances may not hold up if disputes arise after the purchase. Some auctions allow potential buyers to inspect the vehicles in person or virtually. Use that opportunity to check for the items you are interested in and clarify any doubts. Auction vehicles, especially impounded ones, are typically sold as is. Personal items, even if pictured, may not be guaranteed to be included when you purchase. While federal auctions typically include everything inside the vehicle unless noted otherwise, state and local rules can vary widely. If you're bidding on a car for what's inside it, be sure to ask questions and read the fine print, because once the gavel drops, what's missing may be gone for good. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 Teenagers and a Dog Were Found Dead Inside Burning Home: Why Police Think Father Set Fire Intentionally
The bodies of Bently and Rylan Fields were found by police inside a burning Kentucky home Their father, Dustin Fields, has been arrested on an arson charge Dustin was arrested after he allegedly gave police "conflicting information" A Kentucky man has been arrested after his two teenage sons were found deceased inside a burning home police allege he set on fire intentionally. The victims, 13-year-old Bently Fields and 15-year-old Rylan Fields, were found dead alongside a pet dog after emergency personnel responded to a house fire in Franklin County, Ky., on Wednesday, April 30, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office confirms to PEOPLE. Dustin Fields, 43, was arrested on Thursday and charged with first-degree arson, Chief Dwayne Depp tells PEOPLE. Fields was not present at the scene when officers arrived but showed up a few minutes later, Depp says. He was arrested after he allegedly gave 'conflicting information' to investigators, Depp tells PEOPLE, declining to comment further about the reason behind his arrest. Dustin also allegedly had an accelerant on his shoes, which were located in different parts of the home, notably near the boys' bodies, according to an arrest citation, The State Journal, WLKY and WHAS 11 reported. Gofundme Rylan and Bently Fields Rylan and Bently Fields Depp confirmed the identities of the teenagers, whose names were released by the medical coroner's office on Monday. In a GoFundMe set up by the boys' sibling, they are being remembered for their passions: "[Bently] loved to fish and even made YouTube videos about it (BMF'S OUTDOORS). Rylan was more tech-savvy than anything really," reads part of the fundraiser. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Franklin County Regional Jail Dustin Fields Dustin Fields Dustin appeared on Zoom during a Franklin County court on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty, per LEX 18, WHAS 11 and The State Journal. He reportedly asked a judge if he could be temporarily released to attend his sons' funerals, but it was not granted, per WLKY, WTVQ and The State Journal. He told the judge: 'I miss my boys,' WTVQ and WHAS 11 reported. Further charges are pending as the investigation continues, Depp says. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People
