Three Arrested After Chase, Police Standoff

Three men have been taken into custody after a pursuit and standoff with police Thursday morning on Paducah’s west end.

The Paducah Police Department says officers were called to Walgreens, 521 Lone Oak Road, after an off-duty Ballard County dispatcher recognized a man they knew who had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Officers arrived to find the man, 38-year-old Keith Knight of Owensboro was in a vehicle in the parking lot with two other men.

Knight quickly fled in the vehicle, which was later found to be stolen. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but Knight continued down Alben Barkley Drive, and led officers on a pursuit into the Pines subdivision. The vehicle came to a dead end, at which point knight drove into the woods. All three men fled on foot after the vehicle struck a tree.

Knight and one of the other men, 41-year-old Garry Melton of Paducah were caught a short distance away, but 36-year-old Joshua Delk managed to escape. 

After searching throughout the night, police found Delk at around 6 a.m. hiding inside a camper. Officers blocked off and evacuated the area and were ultimately able to talk Delk into surrendering peacefully. 

Detectives said they later found a loaded handgun inside the camper, which belonged to Delk.

Knight, Melton and Delk were booked into McCracken County Regional Jail. Knight is charged with receiving stolen property (less than $10,000), first-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), second-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), reckless driving, resisting arrest, disregarding a stop sign, failure to/improper signal, receiving stolen property (less than $10,000) and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Melton faces charges of second-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), receiving stolen property (less than $10,000) and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Delk is charged with two counts of failure to appear, and on charges of second-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot) and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.