A Hopkinsville man charged in connection to the death of a Trigg County woman when she allegedly fell out of his vehicle last year was indicted by the Christian County Grand Jury Friday.
Brandon Pickett was indicted on charges of reckless homicide and first degree operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
The charges stem from August 28, 2018, when the Christain County Sheriff’s Office reported 49-year old Trina McAllister Akin of Cadiz fell out of Pickett’s Jeep on Striped Bridge Road. She died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The Christian County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy showed Akin died of a head injury. Pickett was arrested at the scene and lodged in the Christian County Jail.
The grand jury also indicted 34-year old Melvin Wallace Wilcox of Hopkinsville on multiple charges, including first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under, first degree fleeing or evading police on foot and in a vehicle, abandonment of a minor and leaving the scene of an accident.
Hopkinsville Police reported on October 14, 2018, Wilcox kicked his child’s mother in the face and then fled from officers resulting in numerous traffic violations. Police said Wilcox then wrecked and fled on foot, abandoning his 8-year old son in the vehicle. Wilcox was arrested after he wrecked the vehicle in a woodline in the 1400 block of Glass Avenue where he then fled on foot and was apprehended. Officers stated the boy had to be extracted by the Hopkinsville Fire Department because he was trapped inside the truck. The child was transported by ambulance to Jennie Stuart Medical Center for treatment of lacerations to his body and a possible sprained right knee and busted lip. Wilcox was booked into the Christian County Jail.
30-year old Malcolm Bell Jr. of Hopkinsville was indicted on two counts of first degree fleeing or evading police, possession of a controlled substance and other offenses.
On February 21, Hopkinsville Police reported officers saw Bell driving a vehicle and not come to a complete a stop at the stop sign at the intersection of East 7th and South Campbell streets and then he failed to use his turn signal. When police tried to conduct a traffic stop, Bell reportedly fled reaching speeds of 70 mph with several children on the side of the road and in the street. During the pursuit, Bell was seen pulling behind a house on Butler Road. Police said he and his passengers then ran into a wooded area where he was apprehended and arrested. Officers reportedly found six ecstasy pills on him. He was lodged in the Christian County Jail.
