From the Harlan County Sheriff's Office -
On Thursday night January 11th, Harlan County deputies responded to the New Hope Apartment Complex after receiving a call that a man was at an apartment refusing to leave.
As deputies arrived they observed a male subject run into a bedroom and could hear the subject barricading the door. The responding deputies called for assistance after the man, identified as 36-year-old David Simpson of Harlan, stated he had a firearm and would kill law enforcement if they entered the room.
As more deputies, Kentucky State Police, and Harlan Police officers arrived, a perimeter was set and negotiations began. For cautionary reasons, residents were removed from the adjacent apartments and both Harlan ARH and Harlan Health and Rehabilitation were alerted due to their close proximity.
After several hours of attempting to negotiate, law enforcement was able to breach the bedroom door and use non lethal tactics to apprehend the subject who was armed with two knives.
David Simpson was arrested by Deputy CJ Reed with the assistance of KSP and Harlan PD and charged with Criminal Trespassing 1st Degree, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Menacing. He was additionally charged with a Harlan District Court and a Pulaski District of bench warrants.