LONDON, KY (October 25, 2020) - Laurel County Sheriff John Root along with Sheriff's detectives, deputies, and the Southeast Regional Special Response Team (SRT) arrested Christopher Lewis age 30 of Storms Lane, Keavy early Sunday morning October 25, 2020 at approximately 12:29 AM.
The arrest occurred off Storms Lane, approx. 9 miles south of London after Laurel Sheriff's Detective Taylor McDaniel, Detective Robert Reed, Detective Bryon Lawson investigated a sexual abuse complaint alleging a female juvenile victim on Saturday Oct. 24th 2020 and Sheriff's detectives obtained an arrest warrant for rape.
Laurel Sheriff's detectives traveled to Storms Lane to execute the arrest warrant on Lewis who barracaded himself inside his residence armed with a pistol refusing to exit the residence. Laurel Sheriff's Lieut. Chris Edwards, a trained crisis negotiator for the Sheriff's office, traveled to the scene attempting to convince the suspect to come out peacefully, however the suspect continued to refuse to exit the residence.
The Southeast Regional Special Response Team was activated and led Laurel Sheriff's Detective Richard Dalrymple were able to successfully and safely remove the suspect from the residence.
Christopher Lewis was taken into custody charged with:
- Sodomy – first-degree with serious physical injury
- Rape first-degree
- Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon
This individual was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Inset photo of the accused attached is courtesy of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
A fully loaded with a round in the chamber pistol was recovered at the scene.
Laurel Sheriff's investigators at the scene included:
- Laurel Sheriff John Root
- Maj. Chuck Johnson
- Capt. Robbie Grimes
- Lieut. Chris Edwards
- Sgt. John Inman
- Deputy Daniel Reed
- Deputy Dylan Messer
- Deputy Brent France
- Deputy Travis Napier
- Deputy Hunter Disney
- K-9 Deputy Jake Miller
- Deputy Josh Morgan
- Detective Robert Reed
- Detective Bryon Lawson
- Detective James Sizemore
- Deputy Gilbert Acciardo
Also assisting was the Southeast Regional Special Response Team led by Laurel Detective Richard Dalrymple with agency team members.
Agencies represented on the Southeast Regional Response Team include:
- Corbin P.D.
- Barbourville P.D.
- Mt. Vernon P.D.
- Williamsburg P.D.
- Knox County Sheriff’s Office
- Laurel County Sheriff’s Office
Other agencies assisting at the scene included:
- Keavy Volunteer Fire Department
- Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County
- Laurel County Emergency Management
Laurel Sheriff John Root (left) stated that this possibly dangerous suspect was arrested safely without any injuries to the suspect, our deputies, or the public using the Southeast Regional Special Response Team, who are specially trained for situations such as this.
