Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A Harlan man was recently arrested after allegedly stealing batteries from Food City and kicking a police chief twice upon his arrest.

Michael Distefano, 32, was arrested by Harlan City Police Department Chief Winston “Wink” Yeary and officers Derrick Noe and George Young on Jan. 9.

According to the citation, HPD received a complaint of shoplifters at Food City in Harlan, where two were later detained. The third, however, refused to leave the store and began running toward the back of the store in an attempt to escape.

Yeary said he told the suspect to walk outside but he refused, resulting in Distefano being drug by the officers outside to the parking lot where they were able to place handcuffs on him.

While conducting a search, Noe discovered there were drugs in Distefano’s mouth and a struggle began. Yeary said he was eventually able to reach in and pull out a bag containing two Suboxone pills and an estimated 6.9 grams of methamphetamine. Distefano had also unpackaged batteries and placed them into a baby wipe container, paying roughly $6 for a multitude of batteries costing more than $100, according to the citation.

As Distefano was being placed into the police cruiser, he allegedly kicked Yeary twice.

Distefano was charged with first-degree possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine), second-degree controlled substance (drug unspecfifed), resisting arrest, third-degree assault (police officer), theft by unlawful taking (under $500) and tampering with physical evidence.

He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center with no bond set.

In other police activity:

• Reggie Cottrell, 34, of Evarts, was arrested by Kentucky State Police troopers on Jan. 4. He was charged with third-degree burglary, two counts failure to appear and contempt of court. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $3,500 full-cash bond and $7,000 bond with 10 percent bail credit;

• Jennifer Hall, 42, of Wallins, was arrested by Kentucky State Police troopers on Jan. 5. She was charged with first-degree possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear. She was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $3,500 full-cash bond;

• Randall Cottrell, 32, of Verda, was arrested by Kentucky State Police troopers on Jan. 5. He was charged with second-degree robbery, parole violation warrant and failure to appear. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $15,000 bond with 10 percent bail credit;

• Clinton North, 35, of Kitts, was arrested by Harlan County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Jan. 5. He was charged with theft by unlawful taking ($500 or more but under $10,000). He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center with no bond set;

• Mitchell Napier, 36, of Evarts, was arrested by Harlan County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Jan. 5. He was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and operation of motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs/alcohol. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $15,000 full-cash bond;

• Brian Caldwell, 45, of Bledsoe, was arrested by Harlan County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Jan. 6. He was charged with first-degree possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine), failure to appear and contempt of court. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $1,500 full-cash bond and a $5,000 bond with 10 percent bail credit;

• Oney Brown, 34, of Cawood, was arrested by Harlan County Detention Center officers on Jan. 6. He was charged with theft by fail to make required dis of property ($500 or more but under $10,000). He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $15,000 bond;

• Shayna Birchfield, 24, of Cumberland, was arrested by Kentucky Fish & Wildlife officers on Jan. 6. She was charged as a fugitive from another state with failure to appear, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and first-degree possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine). She was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on two full-cash bonds totaling $12,500 and an additional $888 (time served with jail credit);

• Lawrence Lucas, 37, of Kingsport, Tenn., was arrested by Kentucky Fish & Wildlife officers on Jan. 6. He was charged with first-degree possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree possession of controlled substance (drug unspecified), tampering with physical evidence and criminal littering. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $2,500 full-cash bond;

• Robert Perkins, 45, of Gulston, was arrested by Kentucky State Police troopers on Jan. 7. He was charged with second-degree burglary and was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $1,000 full-cash bond;

• Gregory Stephens, 44, of Coldiron, was arrested by Harlan County Detention Center officers on Jan. 8. He was charged with first-degree possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $3,500;

• Daniel Myers, 36, of Cranks, was arrested by probation and parole officers on Jan. 9. He was charged with a parole violation, first-degree possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine) and two counts contempt of court. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center with no bond set.