Newly released body camera footage has captured Florida deputies arresting a Kentucky Powerball jackpot winner after he allegedly kicked a deputy in the face during a dispute at a resort bar.
The incident took place just days after James Farthing, 50, and his mother, Linda Grizzle, claimed the $167.3 million lottery prize, making it the largest ever awarded in Kentucky. Farthing faces felony and misdemeanor charges for the alleged assault on a deputy, while his girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, was also arrested for disorderly intoxication.
The body camera video, released by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, shows Farthing allegedly punching another hotel guest during an argument and then kicking a deputy in the face when officers arrived at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. A responding deputy attempted to break up the fight, but Farthing allegedly kicked him in the face and tried to flee the scene, though he was eventually tased and tackled by other officers.
Farthing, who was on parole for previous charges in Kentucky, waived his right to a probable cause hearing in June and is expected to be released later this month. His criminal history includes a lengthy prison sentence of 30 years across nine counties in Kentucky for offenses such as choking his girlfriend, bribing officers while incarcerated, and selling cocaine to an undercover officer.
Authorities have confirmed that the arrests occurred shortly after Farthing and his mother won the Powerball jackpot, raising questions about the contrast between his sudden wealth and his criminal past. While no direct financial impact has been reported, the incident highlights the complexities of legal and social consequences that accompany sudden wealth and criminal history.
Farthing’s girlfriend, Fightmaster, was also arrested for attempting to fight with other patrons at the resort bar. She was charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly intoxication. The sheriff’s office criticized the incident as a ‘reprehensible’ brawl, emphasizing the disorder and aggression that led to the arrests.