ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Recently released footage revealed the events that transpired when a recent Powerball jackpot winner from Kentucky encountered an unfortunate situation with Pinellas County deputies this past April.
According to an arrest affidavit, James Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was at the Island Grand at Tradewinds when he got into a fight with another man on April 29.
Body cam video showed a deputy rushing to separate the two men, restraining the other combatant.
That’s when Farthing tried to kick the other man, only to kick the deputy in the face instead, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Are you kidding me?!” the deputy shouted as Tradewinds staff pushed Farthing away from him.
After handcuffing the other combatant, who was not charged in the incident, the deputy got up and approached Farthing, ordering him to get up against the wall.
“Put your hands behind your back, and get against the f—– wall!”
Farthing initially followed the deputy’s orders, but when the deputy pushed the man toward the wall, he stumbled and then tried to flee from law enforcement.
However, his escape attempt was short-lived as the deputy began deploying his taser while another deputy tackled the screaming shirtless man to the ground.
After being restrained, Farthing tried to apologize to the deputy.
“I’m sorry!” he said.
“Save your f—— sorries for later!” the deputy shouted back.
Farthing, who won the $167.3 million Powerball jackpot prize on April 28, was charged with resisting an officer without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, battery, and parole violation.
His 42-year-old girlfriend, who told deputies her name was Jacqueline Fightmaster, was charged with disorderly intoxication.
Court records show that Farthing pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes and had a pretrial hearing set on Aug. 11.
