Columbia Police responded to the Adair County Regional Jail on Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024 just after 6AM for an altercation between an inmate and Deputy Jailers. 

The inmate, 57-year-old Joseph South of Columbia, KY became aggressive with jail staff and refused to follow verbal commands before physically attacking multiple Deputy Jailers. 

South has been charged with three counts of Assault 3rd degree (correctional employee).
 

South was being held at the Adair County Regional Jail on murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of 87-year-old Earl Coffey that occurred on Saturday, March 23, 2024 on Old Montpelier Road in Adair County.