Suspect in Irvington manhunt apprehended

The suspect in a manhunt in Breckinridge County that put the City of Irvington under a Shelter in Place order Wednesday and later allegedly shot a firearm at law enforcement is in custody.

During a press conference Thursday morning, Irvington Mayor Charles Lucas announced that Lester Perks was located by officers with the Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office and taken into custody about 24 hours after the manhunt began when Perks was seen striking windows of various vehicles with a hammer.

Reading a statement from the Irvington Police Department, Lucas said IPD Chief Jason Ballman was patrolling in the area of Eva Carmen Park just before midnight when he spotted a subject matching Perks’s description. The subject allegedly fired a handgun, striking Ballman’s patrol vehicle, before fleeing the scene.

IPD Assistant Chief Dan McCubbin said law enforcement received a tip that a subject matching Perks’s description was seen travelling on foot on KY 79 towards Brandenburg, approximately 3 to 4 miles from the site of the shooting. Perks was apprehended with no injuries to himself, the public, or law enforcement.

McCubbin said police believe the Wednesday morning incident and the shooting incident are related. Charges against Perks are pending and the investigation is ongoing.