According to Russell County ?Sheriff Derek Polston, last Thursday, December 31st, 2020 (New Years Eve) at approx. 3:30pmCT, Deputies Corey Meyer, Kenny Perkins and Ron Golden responded to a welfare check call of an individual at 326 Country View Road in the Bernard Ridge area of Russell County. Deputies encountered a male subject, identified as Eric Kellog, with a rifle pointing it at them from inside the residence and acting erratically. Additional Russell County Deputies and Kentucky State Police arrived on the scene. During the nearly 10-hour standoff, shots were fired from the house by Mr. Kellog toward officers on scene behind cover. No officers were hit and law enforcement did not return fire. Warrants for the subject along with a search warrant was obtained at that time. Sheriff’s deputies, KSP Troopers and a family member made numerous attempts to contact Kellog with a PA speaker to come outside and talk, but he wouldn’t.
At that time, Sheriff Polston asked for additional help from the Kentucky State Police Special Response team. Upon arrival, the team made numerous attempts to get the subject to come out peacefully, but Mr. Kellog still refused. Entry was later made by the Special Response Team and the individual was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Eric Kellog was pronounced dead by the R.C. Coroners Office.
The case is still under investigation by KSP and the Russell County Sheriffs Office.
Assisting at the scene were Russell Springs Police Officers, Lucas Justice, Hayden Phillips, Russell County EMS, Russell County Coroners Office, and the Russell County Attorneys Office. The case remains under investigation by the Kentucky State Police.