Constable arrested after traffic stop

MAYFIELD, Ky. - A western Kentucky constable has been arrested after deputies say he went too far in trying to pull a vehicle over.

WPSD-TV reports Graves County Constable Jeffery Burnett was charged with four counts of wanton endangerment after allegedly chasing a vehicle along a highway, shining a bright light at it, and then passing it and slamming on his brakes to force the vehicle to stop.

Graves County Chief Deputy Davant Ramage said Burnett's alleged actions were dangerous.

"It diminishes public trust in who's out there at night, who's trying to stop them with what's going on," Ramage said. "We could've had four people seriously injured or even killed."

Ramage said a woman, her mother and her two children were on their way home from a ballgame Friday night when the incident happened.

Burnett declined to comment to the station about the charges, but he told investigators he was trying to stop the car because it crossed the center line of the highway.

Ramage's office said constables are allowed to make traffic stops in Kentucky, but the way this one was allegedly conducted crossed a line.

He said a conviction would mean Burnett couldn't serve as a constable anymore.