(All information in this report is verified by witnesses, and court documents, Changes made to article to reflect accused is not a licensed barber in State of KY, but is a licensed Cosmetologist)

Breathitt County Cosmetologist, Ryan Messer was issued a Criminal Summons on August 18th, 2021 by Breathitt County Sheriff John Hollan for the alleged offense of Harassment. Messer is the owner of Steel Blade Cuts Located on College Ave. In Jackson, KY.

The Complaint reads as follows:

The Affiant, Ron Hamblin, states that on 8-12-21 in Breathitt County, Kentucky, the above named defendant unlawfully COMMITTED THE OFFENSE OF HARASSMENT IN VIOLATION OF KRS 525.070 when the intent to intimidate and alarm Affiant. He engaged in a course of conduct which alarmed Affiant and which served no legitimate purpose when he screamed at Affiant and pointed his finger at affiant and yelled at Affiant, “I am going to kick your ass”, while Affiant was eating at the White Flash Restaurant in Jackson, Breathitt Co. Kentucky.

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According to witnesses on the scene, Mr. Hamblin did not in any way provoke the accused and was eating breakfast when the defendant pulled up in front of the White Flash Restaurant located on Main St. in Jackson, KY.

Mr. Messer, according to witnesses, had to be restrained by his wife who had to block the door to keep Mr. Messer from entering the Restaurant. Witnesses stated the only comment the Affiant made during the altercation was, “I am calling the police”. Witnesses state that Mr. Messer and his wife left only to circle back around to the restaurant where Mr. Messer continued to make gestures toward the Affiant. Jackson Police were called at 9:05 am and again at 9:10am while Mr. Messer was still on the scene. Police did not respond during this time frame.

Mr. Messer was given a court date of December 20, 2021 at 9:00am in the Breathitt County District Courtroom.

All suspects/defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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UPDATE – 
Local Newspaper, Jackson – Breathitt County Times – Voice, did a story on this situation which allowed the Defendant in this case, Ryan Messer, to give his side of the story. The article is as follows:

Dispute turned ugly in front of local eatery according to one participant, Other party disagrees with facts underpinning pending charge

“I never cussed Mr. Hamblin,” Ryan Messer

A “fracas” is defined as “a noisy disturbance or quarrel.” Something happened in front of the White Flash restaurant in downtown Jackson on the 12th of August, 2021 which left a number of people laboring to describe what they actually saw.

According to a sworn summons, taken upon the oath of Ron Hamblin the 18th day of August, 2021, Ryan Messer subjected Mr. Hamblin to harassment in violation of Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) §525.070. That statute, which we accessed by looking it up online, appears to describe as an offense annoying, harassing, or alarming another person with the intent to intimidate that person in a public place by making an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display, or addressing abusive language toward any person present. KRS §525.0700(1)(c). 

The summons, a copy of which the newspaper obtained, stated in relevant part the following:”…with the intent to intimidate and alarm affiant (Ron Hamblin), he (Ryan Messer) screamed at affiant and pointed his finger at affiant and yelled at affiant, ‘I am going to kick your (expletive deleted)’ while affiant was eating at the White Flash Restaurant in Jackson, Breathitt Co., Kentucky.”

We contacted Mr. Hamblin, who is the proprietor of the Appalachian Citizen-Voice and owns a sports reporting service known as Sports View America. He told us, “I have made a sworn statement on which the charges were brought via summons. I will stand on what is sworn in that affidavit.” 

We contacted Ryan Messer about the incident. He is the owner of a barber shop named Steel Blade Cuts located on 1005 College Avenue in Jackson. His version of the events differed from what was contained in the summons.

“Mr. Hamblin and I are at odds about a matter. I went to the White Flash to resolve it. He (Mr. Hamblin) may have interpreted my actions as threatening but I don’t know why. I wasn’t going to harm him and I didn’t threaten him. I just wanted to see if we could work things out.”

We asked Mr. Messer about the quote attributed to him. “I never said that,” he told the Times-Voice. “I never even entered the White Flash when this occurred. I wouldn’t want to disrespect the restaurant trying to run its business. The people trying to eat don’t need to be involved in any beef (argument) Mr. Hamblin and I have going. 

Mr. Messer continued, “I never went in the restaurant. I never cussed Mr. Hamblin. I never threatened him. I was shocked when I got this paper (summons).”

The Times-Voice interviewed people in and around the scene who claimed to have viewed events. None of them “wanted to get in the middle of it” but they indicated they would present and testify truthfully in court if it was required. Mr. Messer told the paper that he had several eye-witnesses he planned to call in his defense when the time comes.

We asked him for names and contact information. He told us, “I won’t give out that information unless I am made to. I will get to defend my good name in court. I am ready to appear and defend myself from these lies.”

Harassment is a class B misdemeanor in Kentucky, according to information we accessed online. The summons indicated there was “no physical contact” between the parties during the event. The court date has been set for December 20, 2021 at 9:00 am. 

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Mr. Hamblin offered this comment on the statement given to Jackson – Breathitt County Times – Voice, by Mr. Messer:

We are going to let the “EVIDENCE” and court decide the matter.
As for any beef with the defendant, I wasn’t aware there was a beef since I have had no communication with Mr. Messer or his wife in over a month.