Photo: PCSO
A video shared online shows the moment that the man who won the $167.3 million jackpot, the largest total ever won in the state of Kentucky, was tackled and tased by police during his recent arrest.
James Shannon Farthing, 50, was arrested days after claiming his prize and reportedly identified as a decades-long criminal, TheSmokingGun.com reported last month. Bodycam footage obtained and shared by WFLA showed Farthing booting a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputy in the head after allegedly punching a hotel guest in the face.
The deputy was holding another person down when Farthing ran up and kicked him, at which point security intervened and pushed him against the wall to give the deputy assistance.
“I just got kicked,” the deputy was heard radioing before picking up his taser and ordering him to put his hands up.
“Put your hands behind your back right f**king now. Put your hands behind your back and get the f—king wall,” the deputy repeated as he shoved Farthing to the wall.
Farthing slipped behind a column and attempted to run away before the deputy fired his taser as another officer tackled the suspect to the ground.
“I’m sorry man, please,” Farthing was heard saying as he was handcuffed.
“Save your f**king sorries for later,” the deputy responded.
The officer was reported to have suffered "swelling and redness" on the right side of his face under his eye following the kick. Farthing recently won the Powerball jackpot in April with his mother, Linda Grizzle and girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster prior TheSmokingGun.com revealing that he'd previously spent 30 years of his life incarcerated at 25 different jails, with the hotel incident being his most recent arrest.
Farthing violated his parole by leaving Kentucky without notifying his parole officer, a requirement based on his lengthy criminal history. Farthing waived his right to probable cause and final revocation, instead choosing to serve an additional month in custody, before being released from Scott County jail , according to the Kentucky Parole Board.
The 50-year-old purchased the winning Powerball ticket at Clark's Pump N Shop in Georgetown, a store he frequents and said he was informed about his winnings from his mother.
“I come in here all the time,” Farthing said via WKYT. “I’m always buying [lottery tickets] ‘cause I’m like ‘somebody’s gotta win.’”
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are reported to be 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball.com.