One of four people charged in connection to a robbery and officer shooting in Hopkinsville last week appeared for a preliminary hearing in Christian District Court Monday afternoon. 25-year old Autumn Neblett and her public defender, Brandi Jones, appeared before Judge Foster Cotthoff on charges of being a fugitive from another state, as well as first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and receiving stolen property under $10,000.
Neblett waived extradition back to Montgomery County as well as the preliminary hearing and Judge Cotthoff bound her case over to the grand jury.
Hopkinsville Police reported Neblett, Keith Kuzyk, September Neblett, and Anthony Johnson were arrested Monday, February 18 in connection to allegedly stealing a vehicle at gunpoint at Walmart on Clinic Drive and an officer shooting on North Drive.
Police said Kuzyk and Autumn Neblett left Walmart in the truck and Officer Jeremy Davidson tried to make a traffic stop but the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued. During the police chase, Kuzyk allegedly swerved and tried to hit a Christian County Sheriff’s deputy deploying a spike strip on North Drive and then fired a rifle multiple times at Officer Davidson, hitting him in the head and arm. The truck continued to flee and was found abandoned at a Sanderson Drive home and the firearm was removed by Kuzyk and Autumn. Later in the morning, police reportedly found Autumn hiding in a dugout at University Heights Academy along with the assault rifle used in the shooting of Officer Davidson.
Police said Kuzyk then stole a vehicle from Waffle House on Fort Campbell Boulevard and fled into Tennessee where he was arrested after a pursuit with deputies with the Christian County and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Departments. September Neblett and Anthony Johnson were also arrested in Montgomery County but details of their arrest have not been released.
Keith Kuzyk’s wife, Jessie, and co-defendant James Merry also appeared before Judge Cotthoff and waived their preliminary hearings and had their cases sent to the grand jury. Although they are not charged in connection to the robbery and officer shooting, Assistant County Attorney Maureen Leamy tells the News Edge Keith Kuzyk had left his phone behind at the Square Deal Market and Jessie and Merry went to pick it up, at which time they were arrested on drug-related charges. Jessie was also charged with tampering with physical evidence. Leamy says additional charges are pending, but she did not specify whether they could be related to the robbery and officer-shooting.
Autumn Neblett remains lodged in the Christian County Jail, while Keith Kuzyk, September Neblett, and Anthony Johnson remain lodged in the Montgomery County Jail and have not been extradited back to Christian County at this time.
Keith Kuzyk is charged in the alleged shooting of Officer Davidson.
Officer Davidson was taken to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville for treatment and was released from the hospital the following day.
