Mayor Hensley Injured In Altercation
UPDATE: The man accused of attacking Burgin Mayor George Hensley is out on bond.
James H. Hurley, 56, turned himself in Wednesday afternoon at the Mercer County Judicial Center and was charged with 4th-degree assault and 2nd-degree disorderly conduct. Both charges are misdemeanors, court officials say. Hurley paid a $500 bond and left the courthouse.
According to the arrest citation, Hurley and Hensley met at 8 a.m. on the front porch of the Burgin Depot, where Hurley asked the mayor why Hurley’s name had been mentioned during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
According to the citation, Hurley struck Hensley in the face, rendering him unconscious and knocking him to the ground. The mayor, who is 71 years old, injured his right foot and ankle.
After Hurley was pulled off Hensley, he fled the scene, according two witnesses who were identified in the arrest citation.
This is not the first confrontation between the mayor and Hurley, a Burgin farmer who accused Hensley of illegally trespassing on his property and shutting off his water supply back in 2015.
Hurley, who is being represented by attorney Hadden Dean, will return to court in May to enter his plea, court officials say.
ORIGINAL STORY: Burgin Mayor George Hensley was injured earlier today in an altercation with a Burgin citizen.
According to Burgin Police Chief Casey Rucker, the altercation began around 8 a.m. on the front porch of the Burgin Depot, when Hensley was approached by James Hurley.
The two men began discussing Tuesday night’s meeting of the Burgin City Council, Rucker said, and the discussion turned into an altercation.
Hensley, who is 71, is seeking medical treatment. According to Rucker, a pin was protruding from Hensley’s foot after the altercation. The mayor fell after being struck by Hurley, Rucker said.
He could not say which hospital Hensley was being treated at. Once the nature of the mayor’s injuries were known, Rucker would determine whether to file misdemeanor or felony assault charges.
This is not the first run in between the mayor and Hurley, a local farmer who accused Hensley of trespassing on his property and illegally shutting off his water supply back in 2015.
Hurley is also no stranger to the law. According to the Boyle County Detention Center website, he was arrested six times between 2003 and 2005 on charges including stalking, terroristic threatening, harassing communications and aggravated assault. According to Rucker, Hurley remains free until the warrant for his arrest is issued.
We’ll update when we learn more.
