A Microtel Inn in Bowling Green was the location for a disturbing scene Wednesday, April 4th.
After a fire was reported at the inn, Bowling Green Fire Department (BGFD) responded promptly, with the Bowling Green Police Department (BGPD) assisting at the location. While enroute BGPD was alerted that an employee of the inn had called in to report that she had been chased by a male subject, later identified as Derric Young, 40, of Beattyville.
She had observed the man jumping from the third floor window where the fire had been reported, after which, he re-entered the inn via the lobby yelling frantically and broke a glass panel at the front desk before pursuing the employee. She managed to get to the parking lot and access her vehicle where she kept a firearm. The employee told Young that should he continue chasing her she would shoot. After the altercation, Young began walking toward the BGFD firefighters on the scene.
Once BGPD arrived, officers held Young a gunpoint, giving him commands to go to the ground. The officer’s report notes that Young was sweating profusely, and was repeating “Help, they’re after me.”
After detaining Young officers noticed he was bleeding from his left wrist, he was taken to an ambulance to be examined by EMS.
After being transported to the Medical Center, Young agreed to speak to BGPD, where he initially explained that he was smoking a cigarette in bed and that the fire had purely been accidental. Young then recanted this, saying that he had started the fire intentionally as a distraction so he could, “Escape the room because people were after him.”
Surveillance footage outside of Young’s room showed, what is believed to be a towel set on fire being thrown from Young’s room. Young was never observed exiting via the door corroborating the employee’s and guest’s statements of Young jumping.
Young was taken to the Warren County Regional Jail, where jail staff discovered two baggies of a white, crystalline substance believed to be meth, in his right sock.
Young has been charged with 1st degree arson, 1st degree criminal mischief, 1st degree promoting contraband, and 1st degree possession of a controlled substance.
