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Officer Involved Gunfire In Westmoreland

By Debbie Gregory

An Owensboro, Kentucky man was taken into custody early Monday morning in Sumner County, after gunfire was exchanged between him and a Westmoreland police officer.

 The Macon County Chronicle spoke with Westmoreland Police Chief Ray Amalfitano, who stated that at approximately 5:00 a.m. January 20th, one of his officers clocked a blue Chevy Cobalt coming out of Kentucky on 31 E, driving at a high rate of speed. The officer stopped the car, and as he approached, the subject, who was later identified as 33-year-old Patrick Beach of Kentucky, took off. Another officer at the Hwy. 52 and Hwy. 31 E red light noticed that the car had crashed into a guardrail and was on the side of the road.

“As the officer started to approach the car and investigate, Patrick Beach jumped out of the car,” said Chief Almalfitano. “Beach was armed with a handgun and exchanged gun fire with the officer. Beach then jumped over a guard rail and down a steep embankment and must have went through some type of creek because he was drenched.”

Chief Amalfitano stated that another officer arrived and found Beach trying to break into a car on Bledsoe Street. The suspect took off again after being ordered to get down on the ground. At this point, another officer responded along with the chief and they were able to capture Beach and take him into custody.

Patrick Beach was first transported to the Sumner County Medical Center to be checked out for possible hypothermia, before being booked into the Sumner County Jail.

The officer and the suspect were not injured in the gun battle.

According to Chief Amalfitano, he later found out that the car Beach was driving was stolen out of Kentucky.

The chief also stated that the incident has been turned over to the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office for investigation.

Patrick Beach has been charged with aggravated assault, theft over $2,500, possession of a weapon, evading arrest and burglary. A General Sessions Court date has been set in Sumner County for February 19, 2020.