Published: July 09, 2009 12:20 pm      

Man accused of shooting at officers serving warrant

While London police officers tried to serve a warrant charging him with a medley of sodomy-related crimes, a London man went to his bathroom window with his .38-caliber handgun and took aim.

Billy M. Johnson, 65, fired a single round from his weapon, with London Police Lt. Stewart Walker, Lt. Derek House and Sgt. Alan Harris the intended targets.

The bullet missed them by about 12 feet and the officers were not injured.

“When the complaint was made, we knew he always had a gun close by and for us to be very careful,” Walker said. “We had cover position ... We looked for something that would stop a bullet, something that would cover us from him.”

Walker, House, Harris and several other officers initially went to Johnson’s Hampton Road home around 9:15 p.m. to serve search and arrest warrants.

“We were investigating a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor,” Walker said.

When they arrived at the home, the police officers called out to Johnson, identifying themselves. Johnson refused to come to the door or speak to the officers, who then tried calling Johnson by phone several times. Nearly an hour later, after repeated attempts at communication, Johnson fired his gun.

At 10:50 p.m., Johnson’s grandchildren helped police by talking to Johnson by phone, convincing him to surrender. Ten minutes later, Johnson did without incident.

He was charged with first-degree sodomy (victim under 12 years of age), third-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse (victim under 12 years of age), use of a minor under 16 years of age in a sexual performance, and three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Johnson is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

Officers conducting the arrest were Walker, House, Detective-Sgt. Blaine Inman, Detective-Sgt. Russell Baker, Sgt. Travis Hurley, Harris, Officer Eric Wilkerson and Officer Jeremy Shell. Other officers assisting at the scene were Capt. John Wright, Sgt. Gary Proffitt and the Kentucky State Police.

More charges may be pending as Inman continues his investigation.

Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.