A Kentucky man who recently pocketed a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot has been arrested in Florida, accused of kicking a police officer.
James Farthing, 50, was involved in an altercation with another guest at the TradeWinds Resort in Pinellas County on Tuesday evening. When a deputy intervened, Farthing allegedly kicked the officer in the face and attempted to flee.
He now faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. His girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, was also taken into custody for disorderly intoxication.
The arrest came just a day after Farthing spoke to WLKY about his windfall, saying he planned to share the prize with his mother, Linda Grizzle. "I still don't believe it's real. I've caused her a lot of stress, but I've kept my faith and done right," he said.
Grizzle, who first informed her son of his win, said she had contacted him immediately. The winning ticket was purchased at Clark's Pump N' Shop in Georgetown, marking the largest Powerball jackpot ever won in Kentucky, surpassing the previous record set in 2009. Shop assistant manager Lynetta Robinson said: "No, it can't be. Nobody in Kentucky ever wins. But then, I was like, wow, we really did sell a winning ticket."
