BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PEACH ORCHARD — A former Lovely resident is in jail after firing multiple shots at the state police during an eight-hour standoff Sunday night and Monday morning in the Peach Orchard community of Lawrence County.

According to Kentucky State Police Trooper Shane Goodall, public affairs officer at Post 14 in Ashland, the KSP conducted a wellness check around 8:30 p.m. Sunday on William M. “Chipper” Hickman, 61, at his home on Route 2033.

When law enforcement arrived at the residence and began exiting their cruisers, they found themselves under fire.

“Mr. Hickman repeatedly shot at our troopers through the walls of his home,” Goodall stated. “They were forced to take cover quickly.”

Attempts to communicate with Hickman were unsuccessful at that time.

“Additional manpower was dispatched to the scene, but no progress was made in establishing a conversation with the barricaded man,” said Goodall.

Police closed Routes 645 and 2033 while they worked to contain the situation. After several hours elapsed with no end in sight and tensions escalating, KSP requested assistance from the special response team out of Frankfort.

Upon arrival, special response team leaders quickly assessed the situation and elected to utilize tear gas to subdue Hickman. That plan worked and Hickman was taken into custody around 4:30 a.m. Monday.

“I’m thankful there was a peaceful resolution in this situation and no injuries occurred on either side,” said Goodall. “There are times when we aren’t this lucky. We all breathed a sigh of relief … Everyone went home safe from harm.”

Hickman is in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville facing two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer).