On Wednesday October 30, 2024, at approximately 9:59 am Wayne County 911 Dispatch Center dispatched a call out of a male armed with a knife that was activity cutting someone’s vehicle tires located on Willa Drive in the city limits of Monticello. Wayne County Sheriff Office Deputy James Barnett was the first to arrive on the scene. Upon Deputy Barnetts’ arrival he observed what appeared to be a fight with multiple people involved. As Deputy Barnett started giving verbal commands for the individuals to stop, as he was getting out of his patrol vehicle. One witness stated he has a knife. Deputy Barnett observed one male getting up from the ground with knife cuts to him. Deputy Barnett also noticed one male was holding another male (now knowing to be the perpetrator) down on the ground with another male taking the knife away from him and throwing it on the ground nearby. Deputy Barnett then had to physically restrain the perpetrator while placing him into handcuffs. A pill bottle was retrieved from the perpetrator’s pants pocket containing 47 narcotic Tramadol Hydrochloride pills with a different medication listed on the bottles label.
Deputy Barnett charged and arrested Michael A. Santiago Lopez of Monticello, KY. for assault-2nd degree (enhanced), 6 counts of wanton endangerment-1st degree (enhanced), resisting arrest, disorderly conduct-1st degree, possession of a controlled substance-3rd degree (drug unspecified) and prescription of a controlled substance not in a proper container.
Santiago Lopez was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.
Wayne County Emergency Medical Service responded to the scene for treatment of the victim.
Deputy Barnett was assisted at the scene by Deputy Joe Horne and Monticello Police Officer Mike Neal.