Barbourville Man Arrested After Fighting With Police

Knox County Sheriff Mike Smith says deputies were called out to Hooker Branch where a man was reportedly walking near a home with two long butcher knives. Deputies arrived to find the man, later identified as 42-year-old James Cole, who tried to hide behind a pallet of concrete blocks. Cole eventually came out from behind the blocks and put the knives on the ground. Deputies said Cole then walked toward them and did not listen to commands to stop. Cole reportedly became “combative” and fought with police. Deputies were able to take Cole into custody and charged him with disorderly conduct, public intoxication, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Deputies said they learned Cole smoked meth before the incident. He was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.