Monticello Police Department

10/14/2026

A SWEET THANK YOU!

The Monticello Police Department would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to Elizabeth Poteet Treherne and the entire Cumberland Ridge Neighborhood for their generous donation to our Shop with a Hero program!

Elizabeth organized Ice Cream Socials throughout the summer, bringing the Cumberland Ridge Neighborhood together for a great cause! Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, they raised an incredible $1,800 for our Shop with a Hero program! That's a whole lot of ice cream making a whole lot of Christmas wishes come true!

Officer Thompson and Officer Thomas were pretty upset to find out they missed an entire summer of Ice Cream Socials. They said they've been responding to calls all summer, but apparently nobody thought to call them for the one emergency they would have been excited to answer… a melting ice cream cone.

Thank you again to Elizabeth and everyone in the Cumberland Ridge Neighborhood for supporting such a wonderful cause! Your generosity truly makes a difference!

10/14/2026

**Monticello Police Department Recent Arrests**

10-8-2026 – Dustin Bell was arrested and charged with Racing Motor Vehicle on a Public Roadway and Reckless Driving by Officer Thompson.

10-11-2026 – Christopher Shelton was arrested and charged with Public Intoxication (Excluding Alcohol) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 1st Degree. Shelton was also served with a Wayne County District Court Bench Warrant for the charge of Non-Payment of Fines by Officer Smedley and was assisted on scene by Wayne County Sheriff Deputy Bybee.

10-11-2026 – Ethan Paige was arrested and charged with Assault 3rd Degree, Menacing, Terrorist Threatening 2nd Degree, Disorderly Conduct 1st Degree, Alcohol Intoxication in a Public Place by Officer Smedley and was assisted on scene by Wayne County Sheriff Deputy Bybee.

10-11-2026 – Allison Speidel was arrested and served with a Wayne County District Court Criminal Complaint Warrant for the charges of Criminal Mischief 1st Degree, Disorderly Conduct 2nd Degree, Menacing, Criminal Trespassing 3rd Degree by Officer Thompson and was assisted on scene by Wayne County Sheriff Deputy Bertram.

10-11-2026 – Taylor Lewis was arrested and served with a Wayne County District Court Criminal Complaint Warrant for the charge of Assault 4th Degree, Disorderly Conduct 2nd Degree, Menacing, Criminal Trespassing 3rd Degree by Officer Smedley and was assisted on scene by Wayne County Deputy Sheriff Meadows.

10-11-2026 – Maggie Higginbotham was arrested and served with a Wayne County District Court Criminal Complaint Warrant for the charge of Assault 4th Degree, Disorderly Conduct 2nd Degree, Menacing, Criminal Trespassing 3rd Degree by K-9 Officer Bertram and was assisted on scene by Wayne County Sheriff Deputy Cash.

10-13-2026 – Bobby Buster was arrested and served with a Wayne County District Court Bench Warrant for the charge of Non-Payment of Fines by Officer Smedley.

10/11/2026

A huge THANK YOU to 2026 Ms. Pr***en Wayne County Fair, Makinlee Black, and Ms. Teen Wayne County Fair, Briley Bennett, for including the Monticello Police Department in their stuffed animal drive!

These young ladies collected new and gently used stuffed animals to donate to our department. These stuffed animals will help bring comfort and a little happiness to children during some of their most difficult moments.

Of course, Major Smith has already picked out five or more for himself and has been hosting tea parties ever since. We’re not sure when he plans to return to his regular duties, but apparently Mr. Snuggles insists on having afternoon tea at 3.

All jokes aside, thank you both for your kindness, generosity, and dedication to making a difference in our community!

Good luck at State! You have the entire Monticello Police Department cheering you both on!

10/08/2026

9-26-2026 – Tommy New was arrested and charged with Assault 4th Degree (Domestic Violence) and also served with a Wayne County District Complaint Warrant for the charge of Assault 4th Degree by Major Smith and was assisted on scene by Deputy Horne of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

9-29-2026 – Michael Perdue was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct 2nd Degree and Public Intoxication (Excluding Alcohol) by Officer Thomas.

9-29-2026 – Tommy West was arrested and charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance 1st Degree (Methamphetamine), Possession of Ma*****na, Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Degree by Officer Thomas and was assisted on scene by Deputy Barnett of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. This arrest came as a result of a search warrant that was executed at West’s residence by the Monticello Police Department.

9-30-2026 – Jullie Towery was arrested and charged with Public Intoxication (Excluding Alcohol), Disorderly Conduct 1st Degree by Officer Smedley and was assisted on scene by Officer Guffey.

10-2-2026 – Amber Neal was arrested and charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking (Shoplifting). During the arrest, Neal was also served with two Wayne County District Court Warrants for Failure to Appear and six Wayne County District Court Warrants for Non-Payment of Fines by Officer Thompson.

10-3-2026 – Juanita Gainey was arrested and charged with Theft of Services by Officer Smedley and was assisted on scene by Major Smith and Officer Thompson.

10-3-2026 – William Brown was arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Operator’s License by Officer Guffey and assisted on scene by Officer Smedley.

10-5-2026 – Malachi Brown was arrested and charged with Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol 2nd Offense, Driving a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Operator’s License, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree by Officer Guffey.

09/30/2026

The Monticello Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, fellow Troopers, and loved ones of Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips.

Trooper Phillips was personally known by members of our department, making this loss especially difficult. No words can adequately express the heartbreak felt by those who knew him, worked alongside him, and called him a friend.

Today would have been Hayden’s birthday. A day that should have been filled with celebration now carries an unimaginable weight for those who loved him. Today, we remember not only Trooper Phillips and his service, but also Hayden—the father, husband, friend, and brother in blue.

We ask that you keep Hayden’s family, friends, and the entire Kentucky State Police family in your thoughts and prayers, especially today.

For those who would like to support Trooper Phillips’ family during this difficult time, a donation link is provided below:

Donate to Trooper Phillips’ Family⁠

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JVNCRHDHNC6PU&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUqZvhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUPbEyUfqiD_Q23ocl0Y9GYlVerIB6XNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6JjkHXC0th5LDCn4JhPezH_cZJN0jLpUbDwX2lEoLjz0UbSvI-3Kj11w0kgg_aem_vTDmIE8AXGOACWCv0_YBnQ

Trooper Hayden Phillips
End of Watch: September 28, 2026

Rest easy, Trooper Phillips. Your service, sacrifice, and memory will not be forgotten.

Happy Birthday, Hayden.

09/23/2026

WEEKLY ARREST UPDATE

9-16-2026 – Jared Dickerson was arrested and served with a Wayne County Circuit Court Indictment Warrant for the charges of Strangulation 1st Degree, Assault 4th Degree, and Persistent Felony Offender 1st Degree by Officer Smedley.

9-17-2026 – Dewayne Roberts was arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of a Substance by K-9 Officer Bertram, with assistance on scene from Officer Thompson and Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Meadows.

9-21-2026 – Melanie Richardson was arrested and served with a Wayne County District Court Warrant for Non-Payment of Fines by Officer Thomas, with assistance on scene from Officer Thompson.

As always, we appreciate the continued support of our community. Our officers are proud to serve Monticello and will continue working each day to help keep our community safe. Thank you to everyone who looks out for their neighbors, reports suspicious activity, and helps make Monticello a great place to call home.

We are also accepting donations for our Shop With a Hero event! If you would like to help us make Christmas a little brighter for local children, donations can be dropped off at the Monticello Police Department or Monticello City Hall. Every donation, big or small, helps make a difference, and we greatly appreciate your support!

And remember: if you’re trying to get your name into one of our Facebook posts, donating to Shop With a Hero is definitely the preferred method.

Stay safe, and don’t crime, Monticello!

09/22/2026

On September 21, 2026, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Monticello Police Department was dispatched to Wayne County Hospital regarding a report of a possible sexual assault that allegedly occurred the previous night.

Officer Thomas responded to the hospital and interviewed the victim, who identified a suspect. Officer Thomas continued the investigation into the reported incident and was able to gather additional information regarding the allegations and the individual involved.

At approximately 6:45 p.m., Officer Thomas and Officer Guffey located the suspect, identified as Bobby Buster, and placed him under arrest without incident. Buster was transported to the Wayne County Detention Center.

Buster was charged with:

• Assault 2nd Degree
• R**e 1st Degree
• Terroristic Threatening 3rd Degree
• Unlawful Imprisonment 1st Degree
• Strangulation 1st Degree
• Menacing

09/18/2026

WE’RE LATE… BUT WE’RE VERY THANKFUL!

First things first, we owe Masonic Lodge 431 an apology.

They made a VERY generous donation to our Shop With A Hero program, and somehow we managed to be quicker responding to calls than we were making this thank-you post.

So, better late than never…

THANK YOU, MASONIC LODGE 431!

We at the Monticello Police Department are extremely grateful for your generosity and support of Shop With A Hero.

We are fortunate to serve a community that continues to step up and help us make Christmas a little brighter for several local children. Because of donations like this, we get to take kids Christmas shopping, fill some shopping carts, create some great memories…and watch officers discover just how little they actually know about what kids think is cool these days.

If you would like to donate to Shop With A Hero, donations can be dropped off at the Monticello Police Department or City Hall.

Every donation helps — big or small!

Once again, a HUGE THANK YOU to Masonic Lodge 431 for your very generous donation!

And as for how late this thank-you post is…we investigated the matter thoroughly and have determined that Facebook Admin is the primary suspect. 😂

Unfortunately, he also controls what gets posted, so no charges are expected at this time.

A huge thank you to Masonic Lodge 431 for their generous donation to support our Shop with a Hero event!

Our car show to help raise money is next Saturday. We are still looking for food vendors to setup. The fee to setup is $25, which is the normal daily business license price; the money raised from the setup fee will go to the Shop with a Hero Event.

09/16/2026

ATTENTION: PEOPLE WHO ARE TIRED OF HAVING A NORMAL JOB!

Our friends at Monticello-Wayne County 911 are looking for a 911 Dispatcher!

Dispatchers are the ones behind the scenes keeping everyone connected. They deal with the calls, coordinate emergency services, keep officers and deputies informed, and somehow remain calm while the rest of us are saying:

“10-4… wait… WHERE AM I GOING?”

And let’s be honest…

Ever wanted to say:

“Go here.”
“Do this.”
“I need you at this address.”

…and actually have a police officer respond with “10-4” instead of an argument?

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE. 😂

But seriously, dispatchers play a HUGE role in keeping our community safe. It takes someone who can think quickly, communicate clearly, stay calm under pressure, and handle a little controlled chaos.

If you think you have what it takes:

Monticello-Wayne County 911 is looking for YOU!

Because behind every confused cop, there’s usually a dispatcher who knows exactly where they’re supposed to be.

Thank you for your interest in joining Monticello Wayne County E-911. Please complete this application accurately and completely. Submission of an application does not guarantee an interview or employment. Qualified applicants may be contacted regarding the next step in the hiring process.

09/16/2026

9-10-2026 – Aaron Hathaway was arrested on a Wayne County Circuit Indictment Warrant on the charge of Assault 1st Degree by Major Smith and assisted on scene by Officer Thompson.

9-13-2026 – Rhonda Gregory was arrested and charged with Alcohol Intoxication in a Public Place by Officer Guffey and assisted on scene by Officer Thompson.

9-15-2026 – Victoria Roberts was arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Operator’s License and was also served with a Clinton County District Court Warrant for the charge of Failure to Appear by Officer Thomas and assisted on scene by Officer Guffey and Officer Smedley.

9-15-2026 – Michael Stephenson was arrested and served with a Wayne County District Court Complaint Warrant for the charge of Criminal Trespassing 3rd Degree and while being arrested, Stephenson was charged with Possession of a Control Substance (Methamphetamine) 1st Degree by Officer Smedley and assisted on scene by Officer Guffey.