The community now has an explanation as to who placed the initial call to Laurel County 911 Dispatch regarding the items stolen at 508 Taylor Drive in London.
The Sentinel-Echo obtained audio Friday morning of a Dec. 23 dispatch call from Charles “Bo” Hensley reporting the theft that took place at Laurel County Judge Executive David Westerfield’s property on Taylor Drive.
Hensley states his first name as Bo on the recording. Westerfield confirmed Friday that the caller is his nephew.
“I’m calling for David Westerfield,” Hensley states in the recording. “Somebody had broke into his garage up here on Taylor Drive. 508 Taylor Drive.”
When the dispatcher asks if there were cameras at the property, Hensley responds that there are no cameras and the doors were open.
The call only lasts 49 seconds before Westerfield calls Hensley, ending the dispatch audio.
The Sentinel-Echo had sought from 911 Dispatch recordings in regard to the theft and initially received audio of a Dec. 24 dispatch call that confirmed Judge Westerfield did reach out to law enforcement regarding the theft that took place at his property nearly three weeks ago.
That call was posted to Laurel County News Youtube page Wednesday.
Numerous media reports have tied the theft to a Dec. 23 incident in which a still-unnamed London Police officer fatally shot 63-year-old Douglas Harless as they attempted to execute a search warrant in the Lily community.
When the Sentinel-Echo previously spoke with Westerfield, he said that he did not reach out to law enforcement regarding the issue.
Westerfield would also go on to say, “Nothing they stole was mine. It was all his.” He made similar statements to the Lexington Herald Leader.
While it is true that Westerfield did not place the initial call, he did reach out the following day. The Dec. 24 dispatch audio, taking place after Harless’ shooting, revealed that Judge Westerfield was directed to speak with LPD Officer Jared Hale in regard to the ongoing investigation.
In the call, Westerfield informed Hale that he had been over to his property to see what items were gone.
“They called me at 1 a.m. this morning and told me all about it,” Westerfield said in regard to Harless’ passing.
“I’m not going to worry about my stuff unless he sold to somebody and it’s laying in a pile and I could identify it, but I can’t make a list,” Westerfield said. “I’m not going to worry about it but I would like to see Charles, my nephew, get his stuff back, if at all possible.”
Ofc. Hale affirmed to him in the call that it was being looked into and that the case had been turned over to Sergeant Elbert Riley.
Westerfield also noted that a homeless man had been staying in his “back building.” Ofc. Hale asked him for confirmation that he would like to have the individual “hooked” if found trespassing, to which Westerfield says, “I do.”
Even before this second call — and the shooting — LPD had charged Hobert Buttery, 49, of Manchester, in connection to the theft. His arrest citation states that Buttery was arrested at 7:34 p.m. Dec. 23 on one count of theft by unlawful taking $1,000 or more but less than $10,000.
While being interrogated, Buttery said he had taken one of the items, a weed eater, to “a house in Lily.” This would lead LPD to serve a search warrant at what many have presumed to be an incorrect address.
Although dispatch audio from the night of the shooting contained the address “489 Vanzant Road” several times, KSP would report 511 Vanzant Road as the actual location at which Harless was shot by an officer in his home.
Court records show Buttery previously resided at 515 Vanzant Road.
The belongings reported as stolen from Westerfield’s property include a heater, four backpack blowers, three weed eaters, and a pole saw. According to the uniform citation, Buttery only acknowledged taking a Stihl weed eater and heater from the backyard.
The items were appraised as a little over $4,000 — making the act a Class D felony. According to the arrest report, Buttery took the belongings at 10:01 p.m. Dec. 22. The items were reported as missing to LPD the next day.
Buttery’s preliminary hearing in Laurel County District Court included testimony that there were no witnesses to the crime. Chief District Judge John Paul Chappell found probable cause and the case was sent to for grand jury consideration on Jan. 17.
Buttery’s bond remains at $10,000.
Harless’ shooting remains under investigation by Kentucky State Police, whose Post 11 in London was requested by LPD at 11:53 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 to investigate in accordance with standard policy.
WKYT obtained dispatch audio indicating the address inconsistency as well as a neighbor’s surveillance footage from the night of the shooting. The video begins at 11:50 p.m., with the police banging on Harless’ door and announcing themselves. Shortly thereafter, officers can be seen scattering throughout the yard before five gunshots are fired.
The officers then radioed for assistance. This is when the inconsistent address is stated multiple times.
KSP collected pieces of evidence on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, which could benefit its investigation. During KSP Detective James Royal’s search of the 511 Vanzant Road property, he found five used .223 shell casings, a light bulb security camera, a Nokia cell phone, and a Taurus nine-millimeter handgun and holster.
According to Det. Royal’s search warrant, the light bulb security camera and cell phone could better show what occurred that night when the LPD officers attempted to enter the home.
LPD announced on Dec. 26 that the officer who fatally shot Harless has been placed on administrative leave. The post said the officer fired after “the occupant of the residence produced a firearm and pointed it at officers.”
Though life-saving measures were performed on scene, according to KSP, Harless succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling’s office.
No other injuries were reported.
LPD officers were not wearing body-cams, as they suspended their use as of March 2023.
The Sentinel-Echo previously filed an open records request to view the LPD’s search warrant for 489 Vanzant Road. A response was received three business days later, redirecting the Sentinel-Echo to Laurel Circuit Clerk Roger Schott. Schott said that his office does not possess the document at this time.
This remains a developing story.