SOMERSET, KY - The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office is reporting that on Saturday, July 2, 2022, Deputy Noah Wesley was on patrol when he saw a vehicle with one headlight traveling north on U.S. 27. Deputy Wesley began to follow the vehicle and observed the driver of the vehicle run a red light at the intersection of Parker’s Mill Road and U.S. 27.
Deputy Wesley then stopped the vehicle at approximately 10:06 P.M., with the vehicle coming to a stop around Mighty Dollar on U.S. Highway 27. The vehicle had two (2) people in it. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Brian Combs. The passenger was identified as Austin Combs, age 25, and was the son of Brian Combs.
During the course of the traffic stop, Brian Combs fled on foot. Deputy Wesley chased Combs, deploying his Taser.
Deputy Wesley then tried to take physical control of Combs by taking him to the ground. Deputy Wesley later stated he did not believe the Taser contacted any part of Combs’ body.
During the struggle to get Combs under control, Combs got on top of Deputy Wesley, and according to an eyewitness, Combs had Deputy Wesley’s arms pinned, and Combs had his hands on Deputy Wesley’s neck.
When the witness got to Deputy Wesley, he stated Deputy Wesley was close to losing consciousness.
With the assistance of the witness, Deputy Wesley was able to gain control of Combs.
Deputy Wesley complained of being strangled as well as head pain on the scene while speaking with Somerset Police Officer Taylor Cundiff.
Due to the nature of his injury, Deputy Wesley was transported from the scene by Somerset-Pulaski EMS to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.
Deputy Wesley was treated at the hospital and released to recover from his injuries at home.
Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office stated that had the witness not intervened to assist Deputy Wesley, he could have received more extensive injuries than he did.
Sheriff Greg Speck reports that Brian M. Combs, age 45, from Defeated Creek Road, Linefork, Kentucky (Letcher County) was arrested and transported to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office where the investigation continued.
Brian Combs was charged with:
- Assault 2nd Degree
- Strangulation 1st Degree
- Fleeing or Evading Police, 1st Degree (On Foot),
- Resisting Arrest
- Disregarding a Traffic Control Device (Traffic Light)
Deputy Preston Pitman also served two (2) warrants on Combs for:
- Felony Probation Violations out of Perry County, KY
Combs was taken to the Pulaski County Detention Center where he remains lodged at the time of this press release.
Photo of the accused is courtesy of the Pulaski County Detention Center.
This case will be presented to a Pulaski County Grand Jury in the near future.
This case remains under investigation by Detective Matt Bryant and the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office.
The Somerset Police Department and the Somerset-Pulaski County EMS assisted the Sheriff’s Office.
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office:
"We didn't put the bystander’s name on here for a reason. One being his privacy. We have his name. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude."
Contact: Major Jeff Hancock
Chief Deputy
606-678-5145
