LONDON, KY - Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting that: Laurel Sheriff's Deputy Nate Bishop arrested two individuals on Adams Road approximately 10 miles South of London on Friday afternoon July 26, 2024 at approximately 3:20 PM. following an apparent road rage incident.
The arrests occurred while Deputy Bishop was nearby investigating an unrelated traffic crash when he overheard yelling and ran toward the commotion where he observed an individual later identified as Jacob Harness exit his vehicle which was directly in front of a tractor-trailer both stopped at the intersection of Adams Road and KY 770.
That individual ran back to the tractor-trailer as the driver of the truck exited his vehicle. Deputy Bishop observed Jacob Harness grab the truck driver by the shirt and throw him to the ground. At approximately the same time, Deputy Bishop observed a male subject in a 2nd vehicle also stopped at the intersection directly in front of Jacob Harness's vehicle. A male subject exited the 2nd vehicle and opened the trunk retrieving a pistol and ran toward the confrontation which was occurring between his son and the truck driver. This second individual (later identified as James Harness) fired numerous shots in the vicinity of other individuals and the confrontation between his son and the truck driver.
Deputy Bishop used voice commands to disarm the shooter, taking him into custody.
Both the shooter and his son were arrested and are identified as: The shooter – James Harness age 53 of Sardinia, Ohio and the shooter's son – Jacob Harness age 26 of Cincinnati, Ohio.
James Harness charged with:
- Wanton endangerment – first-degree
- Disorderly conduct – second-degree
Jacob Harness charged with:
- Assault – 4th degree
The truck driver was apparently not seriously hurt from the assault and no other injuries were reported.
Laurel Sheriff's Deputy Matt Walker along with numerous other Laurel Sheriff's deputies and London City Police Officers assisted at the scene.
The two accused individuals were lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photos of the accused are courtesy of the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Deputy Bishop noted that prior to the confrontation that he overheard the truck driver sound his horn once.
