UPDATE: Feb. 6 at 5:15 p.m.
Through a public open records request, LEX 18 News obtained both digital images and written reports providing new details about the incident that occurred on Monday, where a man allegedly drove through a fence and onto runways and taxiways at Blue Grass Airport.
According to the officer who contributed to the report, when he arrived at Hockensmith’s location in his cruiser, Hockensmith raised both of his hands and said that he needed to talk to the officer. The officer then detained Hockensmith in handcuffs and while performing a pat down found a can of pepper spray in Hockensmith’s front pocket. When Hockensmith was asked how he had gotten to his current location, Hockensmith said he had driven his car through the airport fence.
The report states that since officials first encountered Hockensmith, he was speaking “very disjointedly” about needing to talk with federal law enforcement and that people were following him, which led him to drive through the airport fence in an effort to gain the attention of federal authorities so that he could speak with them.
WATCH: Surveillance Video From Airport
Field sobriety exercises were performed, but it was “apparent” that Hockensmith was not under the influence but rather having “mental difficulties,” according to the report.
The report also details that the damage to the fence was “extensive” and, due to the fact Hockensmith drove across an “active commercial runway and taxiway without clearance or escort, he showed extreme disregard for the value of the lives of the traveling public.”
While on the way to the Fayette County Detention Center, it was reported that Hockensmith continued to say that he needed to speak with Homeland Security officials and that he suffered from anxiety and some mental health problems.
Hockensmith direction of travel:
Original Story:
A man was arrested on Monday evening after he allegedly drove through a fence around the Blue Grass Airport and onto an "active runway."
According to an arrest citation, 51-year-old Steven Hockensmith was taken into custody after police responded to the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington for "an unauthorized vehicle on a commercial runway."
The citation states that Hockensmith was "found in a private vehicle on the general aviation ramp of the airport after reportedly striking a parked golf cart."
After further investigation, the citation notes that Hockensmith "drove his vehicle through a fence near Versailles Road and traveled across several active runways before coming to a stop by striking a parked golf cart."
According to the citation, police obtained video footage that "shows Hockensmith reverse and hit the golf cart, causing damage."
The citation details that Hockensmith "repeatedly told police that he had intentionally rammed the airport fence to gain access."
He is booked in the Fayette County Detention Center and charged with the following:
- two counts of first-degree criminal mischief
- second-degree criminal trespassing
- first-degree wanton endangerment
