Just because Grace Kelley is the daughter of a famous country singer Wynonna Judd, that didn’t stop her from getting arrested.
The Millbrook Police Department encountered Kelley, 27, near the intersection of Highway 14 and Interstate 65 Friday afternoon. It was Kelley’s second interaction with the Millbrook Police Department within an hour.
Millbrook police chief P.K. Johnson said officers first encountered a woman near Murphy Oil on Highway 14 who was reported to be loitering and displaying inappropriate signs. The woman, who was later identified as Kelley and from Franklin, Tennessee, was uncooperative. Officers told her to stop loitering and leave the area or face arrest.
About an hour later officers responded to a call of a possible robbery on Highway 14. The alleged victim was described as the woman encountered earlier at Murphy Oil — Kelley.
“The complainant advised officers that the alleged victim was causing issues and disturbing other customers, while in the business, but had departed prior to officers’ arrival,” Johnson said.
Officers located the woman on Highway 14 at Interstate 65.
“While attempting to ascertain if the subject needed assistance, the subject became irate, refusing to identify herself or cooperate with officers,” Johnson said. “Officers noted that the individual was dressed inappropriately, with both her upper and lower private areas exposed, in public view.”
Based on the previous contact with law enforcement, the woman’s actions during and between the two encounters with police officers and refusing to cooperate with police, the woman later identified as Kelley, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and obstructing governmental operations. As of Tuesday evening, Kelley was in the Elmore County Jail with a $2,000 bond available to her.
Johnson said most of the time officers who make contact with these types of individuals find they are homeless or “down on their luck” and in need of assistance.
“In those cases, we try our best to help people, while making sure that they are not in violation of the law or causing danger to themselves or others by their presence and close proximity to heavy traffic,” Johnson said.
Normally these types of arrests do not draw much attention. But the Millbrook Municipal Court staff began to receive media inquiries about Kelley’s arrest.
“[Monday], I was advised by our court department staff that Ms. Kelley had people inquiring about her bond and that she is apparently the daughter of a celebrity, country music star Wynonna Judd,” Johnson said. “It was the first time that I or anyone affiliated with the Millbrook Police Department had any inclination of who Ms. Kelley was.”
Tuesday morning more calls started coming to the Millbrook Police Department from media outlets across the country. Johnson found it disturbing that the arrest attracted so much attention.
“There are so many of these people out there, but most people pay no attention until someone like this turns up, arrested and in jail,” Johnson said.
