An Anneta convicted felon whose felony arrest history dates to 2009, has slammed head-on into a Clarkson Police Officer during a multi-agency pursuit that began on Ambassador Shores Drive and ended on Sadler Lane, near the intersection of Shrewsbury Road.
Sunday night at approximately 7:00, Grayson County Deputy Sean Fentress made contact with 42-year-old Troy Joseph Toms on Ambassador Shores Drive after Toms was accused of hitting a vehicle in the 300 block of Ambassador Shores and fleeing.
As Fentress attempted a traffic stop on Toms, he fled onto Oakwood Lane at 60 miles per hour in the densely residential area where Fentress briefly lost contact. Fentress, remaining in the area, again made contact with Toms on Ambassador Shores as the suspect side-swiped the deputy’s patrol vehicle.
Continuing to flee, Toms turned right onto Anneta Road, before turning left onto McGrew Church Road. From McGrew Church, Toms turned right onto Decker School Road, with speeds fluctuating between 45 and 60 mph.
Toms then turned left onto White Oak Road before turning right onto Blowtown Road.
By this time, Deputy Rick Mehlbauer and Clarkson Officer Blake Elmore had joined the chase.
Toms remained on Blowtown Road for several miles before turning left onto Sadler Road, which he followed until turning left onto South Sadler Road, which, after a few miles becomes Sadler Lane.
As the chase approached the intersection of Sadler Lane and Shrewsbury Road, Toms entered a field, destroying a fence, and began driving in the opposite direction on Sadler Lane as he tried to hit both Melhbauer — who entered a field to avoid a collision — and Fentress before driving directly into the front end of Elmore’s SUV patrol vehicle, ending the chase.
Elmore suffered minor injuries and was later treated at Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center (OHTLMC).
Toms suffered a possible broken leg and other injuries and was transported by EMS to OHTLMC, where he remains as of Monday morning.
He faces multiple charges, with attempted murder of a police officer, fleeing or evading police, DUI, assault, and several traffic offenses all being possibilities. When law enforcement determines the exact charges, K105 will provide that information.
With Kentucky State Police troopers busy on other calls, Leitchfield Police Department Officer Adam Cottrell investigated the collision. An Edmonson Co. deputy, who was on standby in case the chase left Grayson Co., assisted at the scene.
A criminal history rivaled by few
The suspect’s criminal history is extensive and includes arrests, indictments or convictions for multiple felonies, including rape, assault, burglary, first-degree wanton endangerment, receiving stolen property, and theft by unlawful taking … the list goes on and on and is noted below.
Most recently, on January 24 of this year, Toms was arrested in Grayson Co. for fourth-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident, DUI, driving on a suspended/revoked license, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle, and failure to produce an insurance card.
In an incident that lives in local law enforcement lore, in December 2010, an intoxicated Toms struck and destroyed the gas pumps at Ralph’s Market, and got into a verbal altercation with three juveniles in the parking lot of Ralph’s. He then brandished a lighter and paper towel and threatened to throw a lit paper towel on the gas pumps, according to court documents.
One of the juveniles then reentered a vehicle with Toms entering his vehicle and striking the juvenile’s vehicle at least three times.
Toms then left Ralph’s and ran a vehicle off Anneta Road. That vehicle, being driven by a retired Nashville police officer, entered a ditch. The former officer, John Vincent, was able to extract his vehicle from the ditch and drive to Ralph’s to check on his two children, who were in the vehicle with him, court documents say. About that time, Toms entered Ralph’s parking lot and struck Vincent’s vehicle, breaking the wheel off the front axle.
Vincent then removed a handgun from his vehicle and held Toms at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived.
Other arrests, convictions and indictments:
- September 2014: Toms was arrested in Hart Co. for assault under extreme emotional disturbance and first-degree wanton endangerment.
- November 2013: He was arrested in LaRue Co. for burglary.
- September 2012: Toms was arrested in Hart Co. for domestic violence assault and public intoxication (excluding alcohol).
- December 2014: He was convicted in Grayson Co. of first-degree wanton endangerment and assault under extreme emotional disturbance, with both charges enhanced by Toms being a persistent felony offender, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
- February 2013: Toms was indicted on a first-degree rape charge in Grayson Co.
- December 2010: Toms was arrested in Hopkins Co. on two counts of burglary, theft by unlawful taking, first-degree wanton endangerment, and fleeing or evading police.
- June 2009: He was arrested in Henderson Co. for first-degree wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police, burglary, receiving stolen property, DUI (aggravating circumstances), and being a persistent felony offender
- August 2005: Toms was arrested in Ohio Co. for DUI.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
