Video Shows Lottery Winner Getting Tased

AUGUST 7--A day after claiming a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot, James Farthing was at the lobby bar of a Florida resort bragging about his financial windfall, saying, “I’m a millionaire, I’m a millionaire.”

Wearing only a pair of shorts and sneakers, the heavily tattooed Farthing, 50, was apparently not pleased when a a skeptical patron challenged the Kentucky man’s story.

“He was claiming all these lottery winnings,” Kevin Rushing, a 48-year-old Idaho resident, told police. Rushing, who was vacationing at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, added that he told Farthing he was “delusional.”

What followed was a melee that resulted in felony and misdemeanor charges being filed against Farthing, a career criminal/ex-con who is now one of the Bluegrass State’s wealthiest men.

The incident was captured on police bodycam video released to TSG in response to an open records request (the footage opens without sound).

Officers had been called to the resort in response to the unruly behavior of Farthing and his girlfriend. “The guy with the tats...was basically trying to fight everybody in the bar,” a deputy reported. “This guy came in acting like an asshole, [saying] ‘I’m a millionaire, I’m a millionaire.’”

After being called out, Farthing allegedly punched Rushing in the face. The men were grappling on the floor when Deputy Nicholas Areostatico rushed in to separate the pair. As the cop was detaining Rushing, Farthing got to his feet and attempted to kick Rushing in the head. Instead, he struck Areostatico in the face (a second kick hit Rushing).

Areostatico subsequently drew his Taser and demanded that Farthing “put your hands behind your back right the fuck now...and get against the fucking wall.”

Instead, Farthing made a run for the exit. Areostatico fired three Taser darts, one of which struck Farthing in the back. Deputy Mike Harris then executed a flawless form tackle on Farthing, who was bloodied when his face hit the floor.

“You see I have him (Rushing) and you walk up and you fucking kick him and you hit me in the fucking face,” Areostatico told Farthing. 

“I’m sorry, man,” replied Farthing.

“Save your fucking sorrys for later,” said Areostatico, who subsequently declared, “He’s fucking going (to jail) for kicking me in the face.” Describing the police confrontation with Farthing, Areostatico told another officer, “He rode the lightning and he got taken down.”

Farthing was charged in a June 25 criminal information with battery on a law enforcement officer, a felony, and resisting, a misdemeanor. While initially charged with simple battery for punching Rushing in the jaw, that count was subsequently dropped by prosecutors.

Free on $10,500 bond, Farthing--who has spent a total of about 30 years behind bars--is scheduled for an August 11 pretrial hearing in Circuit Court.