Three suspects from Grayson County are facing over 40 combined charges after a police pursuit that began in Clarkson and ended in Hardin County.
Friday night a little after 8:00, Clarkson Police Chief Buck Meredith made contact with a vehicle related to a shoplifting complaint as well as an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle report Meredith had taken earlier in the day.
As Meredith attempted to execute a traffic stop on the eastbound vehicle on Elizabethtown Road near Clarkson, the driver, 31-year-old Alicia Morrison, of Clarkson, fled (according to Meredith, soon after the chase began, Morrison switched seats with Jonathan D. Frank, 23, who has ties to Clarkson, Leitchfield and Beaver Dam, with Frank then driving).
With speeds reaching 70 miles per hour, Frank fled Meredith on Elizabethtown Road through Big Clifty and nearly entered Hardin County before making a right turn onto Clifty Church Road. Once on Clifty Church Road, another vehicle hit Frank as he passed, according to Meredith (no one was injured in the collision), with Frank continuing to flee. The chase then proceeded from Clifty Church Road onto Summit Road.
Multiple law enforcement officers converged on the chase, including Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Zane Greer and Deputies Rick Mehlbauer, Sean Fentress and Andy Vincent, as well as several Kentucky State Troopers.
The pursuit continued from Summit Road onto Millerstown Road, with speeds again reaching 70 miles per hour, and entered Hart County, with Meredith giving up his lead pursuit position to Kentucky State Police.
The chase then entered Hardin County where, after a few miles and with Frank slowing to under 35 miles per hour, Trooper Jakob Clemons performed a PIT maneuver, bringing the chase to an end.
During the subsequent search of the vehicle, Frank, Morrison and another occupant, Kenneth McGuffin, 25, of Caneyville, police located methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and items stolen from Walmart.
Frank was charged with 28 total counts in Grayson, Hart and Hardin counties, including two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer), three counts of fleeing or evading police, two counts of unlawful imprisonment, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), DUI (aggravating circumstance), theft by unlawful taking (shoplifting under $500), unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree criminal mischief, speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, no operator’s license, and possession of drug paraphernalia along with many non-moving violations.
Morrison was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer), fleeing or evading police, DUI (aggravating circumstances), speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and theft by unlawful taking (shoplifting under $500). She was also charged with a probation violation (for a felony offense) and served with a warrant for failure to appear.
McGuffin was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), theft by unlawful taking (shoplifting under $500), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
All three suspects were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
