A man facing a murder charge in the Adair County Regional Jail is now facing multiple assault charges as well after allegedly attacking jail staff.
According to police, officers were called out at around 6 a.m. yesterday after 57-year-old Joseph South became aggressive with jail staff and was refusing to follow commands. Police say South eventually attacked multiple deputy jailers.
The incident led to police charging South with three counts of assault – third degree.
South was arrested Saturday and charged with murder in connection to the death of 86-year-old Earl Coffey at his residence in the Montpelier community.
According to Kentucky State Police, South was being evicted from a residence he was renting from Coffey, which led to South going to Coffey’s residence Saturday morning sometime around 7 a.m. and firing several rounds from a firearm into the residence, ultimately killing Coffey.
South remains lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail.
