Rachel Dove-Baldwin

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON — A Pikeville, Ky. man was placed under arrest by local law enforcement on a variety of charges that included DUI, driving the wrong direction on a one-way street and battery on a police officer, along with several others.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Mingo County Magistrate Court, Matthew R. Gooslin, 31, was operating a 2008 Hyundai Elantra on 2nd Ave. in Williamson, traveling the wrong way on a one-way street and also ran a red light. During this process, he narrowly avoided colliding with officers from the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department that were turning onto 2nd Ave. from the Harvey Street Bridge.

A traffic stop was executed and upon approaching the driver, the officers stated they detected a strong alcoholic odor on the defendant’s breath. Gooslin was asked to exit the vehicle and was unable to stand without staggering. He became belligerent at that point and refused to have field sobriety tests administered to him.

Upon further investigation, they observed front damage to the front of Gooslin’s vehicle that had occurred when he collided with a van on 2nd Ave. belonging to the Living Water Church and fled the scene. The defendant was transported to the MCSD to have an intoximeter breathalyzer test performed, but refused to cooperate. Gooslin was advised by the officers that he had 15 minutes to consider changing his mind, and were repeatedly cursed by the defendant who declared, “I am not taking nothing for no one”.

The defendant was taken into an office and was told to have a seat to be processed for admission to jail. At this time, Gooslin became irate and shoved Deputy M.A. Lendearo from behind and kicked him, nearly knocking him to the ground. The defendant was subdued to the floor without incident. It was also discovered during the booking process that Gooslin had a prior DUI conviction on Nov. 15, 2011.

Gooslin was charged with DUI, 2nd offense; driving wrong direction on a one-way street; failure to obey a traffic signal; accident with unattended vehicle; battery on a police officer and no proof of insurance. He was arraigned before Mingo County Magistrate Dee Sidebottom and received a $4,500 bond. He was released from the Southwestern Regional Jail after meeting the stipulations of his bond three days after his arrest.

The arrest was conducted by Cpl. C. Endicott, Deputy M.A. Lendearo II and Deputy E. Williams.