BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A Martin County man went to jail after he called 911 repeatedly making false reports for the purpose of luring law enforcement to his home to harass them, police said. Moments after his arrest, police took his father into custody for interfering with government operations.
Deputy Billy Wells arrested Austin Harless, 30, of Debord, Nov. 12 on Court Street in Inez. Harless’ charges include falsely reporting an incident to law enforcement and second-degree disorderly conduct.
Martin County Sheriff John Kirk states in a criminal complaint that Harless made at least 10 calls to 911 dispatch between Sept. 29 and Nov. 6, reporting false incidents.
The complaint outlines several incidents.
On Nov. 2, Harless called 911 claiming he could not access a graveyard and wanted law enforcement to escort him. When Deputy Jimmy Robinson arrived, Harless told him he was “just doing this to prove a point.”
Three days later, he reported receiving threatening communications, then told Deputy Steven Putman he was “trying to prove a point by calling.”
On Nov. 6, Harless reported that “drug addicts are patrolling Davella Road.” When Sheriff Kirk responded, Harless cussed and harassed him, conduct that “wantonly created a risk of public disturbance,” according to the complaint.
Sheriff Kirk says Harless has established a pattern of calling 911 to force responses from the sheriff’s office, then chastising deputies about response times and accusing them of ignoring serious crime.
According to the complaint, Harless has said he wants the Kentucky State Police to respond instead. However, the complaint states that he continues to call Martin County 911 despite being advised to contact KSP directly.
Harless’s father, 51-year-old Homer Harless Jr. of Debord, was a passenger in the vehicle when law enforcement arrested the younger Harless. According to Sheriff Kirk, Homer Harless refused to exit the vehicle even after officers told him it was being towed. The police report states that he grabbed the keys from the ignition and stuffed them inside his clothing, refusing to hand them over to the sheriff. He then reportedly resisted repeated efforts to remove him from the vehicle and place him in handcuffs.
Homer Harless is facing charges of obstructing government operations and resisting arrest.
In recent weeks, Austin Harless has livestreamed many of his encounters with police on social media. The videos show exchanges that align with the sheriff’s description in the criminal complaint. He has also livestreamed his interactions with staff inside the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and the Martin County Attorney’s Office.