Tragic story of the “most arrested man in the world” who was handcuffed more than 1,300 times

A man considered to be the “most arrested person in the world” has died at the age of 74.

Henry Earl of Lexington, Kentucky, was arrested more than 1,300 times during his lifetime, and his extensive police record made him a celebrity both locally and online.

Many of Henry’s arrests were alcohol-related. He was frequently arrested and spent several days in jail before being released.

Henry began drinking at the age of 18, after the death of his adoptive mother.

He said he last worked as a busboy and dishwasher at the Smith Motel in 1969 and had been homeless for most of his life.

Due to his extensive criminal record, he was even Jimmy Kimmel Live However, in 2004 he was unable to attend the show because he was in prison.

In 1992, the Lexington Fayette Urban County Probation Department implemented a computerized booking system to track its nearly 1,300 arrests.

Henry Earl died at the age of 74. (LEX18)

However, his entire criminal record goes back much further to his first arrest in 1970 for carrying a concealed weapon.

During the many years that Henry was homeless, he was supported by people at the Catholic Action Center in Lexington.

Among them was Ginny Ramsey, the founder of the center, who paid tribute to him.

She said: “He was a character, he had a wonderful sense of humour.”

Henry participated in the Catholic Action Center’s residential program, but sometimes struggled with the center’s curfew.

Ramsey said: “We would now say, Henry Earl, you have to be there at 9:30 or 10 o’clock. On the weekends you can stay out until 11 o’clock. Well, he tried, but he wasn’t quite ready.”

She added: “When we didn’t see Henry Earl for a while, everyone was worried. We thought he was going to die on the streets. He didn’t die on the streets.”

In 2017, Henry was admitted to Owenton Health and Rehabilitation Facility.

People who cared for Henry paid their last respects to him. (LEX18)

Some of the people who cared for him at the facility attended his funeral at Owenton Cemetery.

Among them were Charlotte Woods and Kirsten Dempsey.

Dempsey told LEX18: “He was a very pleasant man, always up for a joke and always trying to make people laugh.”

Woods added: “If you asked him, ‘What’s your name?’ he would always say James Brown.”

The Catholic Action Center has announced that it will include Henry in its plans for a Memorial Day barbecue to honor deceased homeless people.

Unfortunately, no one was able to locate Henry’s relatives after his death.

Ramsey said, “You couldn’t meet Henry Earl and not love him. Henry Earl will never be forgotten.”

If you live in the United States and are affected by any of these issues, call 211 for help finding ways to pay your rent, mortgage or utilities and stay in your home. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use the search function on this page to find more resources near you.

Photo credit: LFUCG Community Corrections

Topics: News, US News, Crime, Alcohol