Lovely is accused of stabbing Butler County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Farthing Thursday and purposely setting a vehicle on fire, according to court documents.
His bond was set at $125,000 cash or surety during a Friday arraignment hearing by visiting Judge Thomas M. Hanna in Middletown Municipal Court.
Hanna said conviction on either of the two first-degree felony charges could bring a possible 3-11 years in prison. An arson conviction carries a six- to 18-month prison stay.
Lovely told the judge he does not work and lives with his father due to struggles with “anxiety and depression for five years.”
Hanna said an attorney would be appointed for Lovely.
Lovely will be back in court 9 a.m. Feb. 13 for a preliminary hearing. He remains in Middletown City Jail.
What happened?
Farthing responded around 12:45 p.m. Thursday to a report of a vehicle fire near a house and trees in the 7000 block of Myers Road in Madison Twp. As Farthing assisted with traffic control for responding fire personnel, he was approached from behind and stabbed by a man, identified as Lovely, who lives at the residence.
Once detectives were on scene, it was determined Lovely “purposely set the vehicle on fire out of anger due to a break up (redacted name), the registered owner of the vehicle,” according to Middletown court documents.
Radio traffic at the time of the incident shows dispatchers discussing the vehicle fire when Farthing patched in, saying he had “just been stabbed in the back” and he had the suspect, identified later as Lovely, “at gunpoint.”
“I think he’s somewhat under control,” Farthing said. “I’m not sure how bad I am.”
The knife pierced Farthing’s ballistic vest, and a struggle ensued before the deputy subdued Lovely. Both men were taken to Atrium Medical Center in Middletown.
“I am extremely thankful that Deputy Farthing is recovering well and will be going home,” Sheriff Richard Jones said in a statement. “There are not many professions where you wake up and prepare for work knowing you may not come home, and law enforcement is one of them. We are all very grateful that, in this case, Deputy Farthing is going home.
“I am confident that Phillip Lovely will have his day in court and that justice will be served.”
