Ricky Ashley

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Rachel Baldwin

Staff Writer

GOODY, Ky. — A Belfry man who was later identified by law enforcement as a Fugitive from Justice from the State of Indiana was taken into custody at the South Williamson Walmart Super Center Saturday evening, after police were called to investigate complaints that the defendant was allegedly stalking a teenage girl inside the business and had become involved in a verbal confrontation with the female’s step-mother after he was confronted.

Ricky Ashley, 32, of Belfry, was placed under arrest by the Pike County Sheriff’s Department on charges of stalking and menacing. When his information was checked through the Pike County 911 system, the officers were told the defendant was listed as a Fugitive from Justice in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, wanted on several felony warrants that include drug related charges.

Pike County Constable J. Worley and off-duty deputy B. McCoy were the first to arrive on scene and took Ashley into custody without incident after speaking with numerous eye witnesses that relayed information about the defendant approaching teenage females and attempting to engage them in conversation, making comments to them that were not appropriate. He is accused of following the teens throughout the store, even after he was told by adults accompanying them to leave them alone.

Walmart security remained inside the store with the victims and along with a father of one of the teens, kept a close eye on Ashley to make sure he didn’t leave the premises until police arrived. No one was physically harmed during this incident, but one of the teens in particular was visibly shaken after experiencing a run-in with the defendant.

Ashley remains behind bars without bond, while awaiting extradition back to Indiana to face the charges against him.