08/20/2026
Middlesboro Police Department Press Release
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at approximately 2:45 a.m., officers with the Middlesboro Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Exeter Avenue in reference to an assault.
Upon arrival, officers learned that the alleged suspect, Jay D. Hamlett, resided directly next door. Officers observed Hamlett pulling into his driveway and approached his vehicle in an attempt to make contact with him. As officers approached, Hamlett started his vehicle and began backing out of the driveway.
Officers gave Hamlett multiple commands to stop; however, he continued backing up before placing the vehicle in drive and accelerating forward. Despite continued commands from officers to stop, Hamlett ignored the commands and fled the scene, nearly striking three officers with his vehicle.
Officers attempted to locate Hamlett but were initially unsuccessful.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 3:00 p.m., officers observed the vehicle involved in the earlier incident parked in Hamlett’s driveway and believed Hamlett was inside the residence. Officers had also learned that Hamlett had made threats toward neighbors and reportedly stated that he had multiple fi****ms inside the residence.
Officers attempted to make contact with Hamlett for several minutes; however, he refused to come to the door. Sgt. Quillen subsequently applied for a search warrant for Hamlett’s residence, for the apprehension of Hamlett for three counts of wanton endangerment 1st deg police officer, and fleeing or evading Police 2nd deg motor vehicle, which was granted.
Officers knocked and announced their presence at two separate doors of the residence before breaching both doors. Officers then moved away from the entry points and continued making announcements and giving commands for Hamlett to exit the residence. Hamlett refused to comply.
At that time, Hamlett’s exact location inside the residence was unknown, and officers had not determined whether he was armed. A white pickup truck then quickly entered the yard of Hamlett’s residence. A male, later identified as Andrew Hamlett, exited the vehicle and began yelling at officers and making threats toward them.
Sgt. Quillen and Officer Justice gave Andrew Hamlett multiple commands to leave the area so officers could safely direct their attention toward Jay Hamlett and the residence. Andrew continued to obstruct the investigation and refused to comply with officers’ commands. He eventually moved his vehicle across the street but remained belligerent toward officers.
Due to the ongoing circumstances and for the safety of everyone on scene, Sgt. Quillen approached Andrew Hamlett in an attempt to detain him and focus their attention back to the scene to make it as safe as possible. As Sgt. Quillen began giving Andrew commands to exit his vehicle, Andrew reached with his right hand behind him and into an area of the vehicle that was out of the officers’ view.
Officer Justice, who was already on scene with his K9, Tyr, for the ex*****on of the search warrant and was the only officer in close proximity who could safely assist Sgt. Quillen, immediately assisted. Officers ordered Andrew Hamlett out of the vehicle and onto the ground, where he was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody.
Officers then redirected their attention to the residence and made entry while continuing to give multiple commands for Jay Hamlett to identify himself and exit the residence. Hamlett was located barricaded behind a bathroom door and refused to exit.
Officers backed out of the residence and continued giving Hamlett commands to come outside. Hamlett eventually opened the bathroom door and yelled for officers to come and get him, stating that officers would have to kill him because he would not go back to jail.
Hamlett was given multiple warnings that he needed to show officers his hands and comply with their commands. Officers warned Hamlett that if he failed to comply, K9 Tyr would be deployed to apprehend him and that he could be bitten.
Hamlett continued to refuse officers’ commands, at which time K9 Tyr was deployed to apprehend him. As Sgt. Quillen, Officer Justice, Captain Brigmon, and K9 Tyr attempted to take Hamlett into custody, Hamlett continued to resist and physically fight with officers for several minutes before ultimately being taken into custody.
Andrew Hamlett was arrested and charged with Obstructing Governmental Operations and Disorderly Conduct.
Jay D. Hamlett was transported to a medical facility for treatment of injuries sustained during his apprehension by K9 Tyr. Upon his release from the medical facility, Hamlett will be lodged and charged with the following:
● Three counts of Wanton Endangerment in the First Degree – Police Officer
● Fleeing or Evading Police in the Second Degree – Motor Vehicle
● Resisting Arrest
● Menacing
● Assault in the Third Degree – Police Officer or Probation Officer
