Three theft suspects, all teenagers, have led the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Leitchfield Police Department and Kentucky State Police on a high-speed chase that began on South Main Street and ended on the Western Kentucky Parkway in Hardin County.
Monday night at approximately 11:00, a homeowner in the 9000 block of Shrewsbury Road notified Grayson Count Dispatch that multiple suspects had broken into a vehicle on his property and stole a lock box containing two firearms.
Upon encountering an unknown man on his property, the victim said he asked the suspect what he was doing on his property, with the suspect responding that he was going to the bathroom. The victim then noticed the interior light of his truck was on. When the victim asked the man why the light was on in his truck, the suspect ran to a 2007 Hyundai Veracruz, with the vehicle nearly striking the victim as it sped away.
Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Fred Norder made contact with the suspects, 19-year-old Andrew Singer, 18-year-old Taylor Tucker and a 17-year-old female, all of Louisville, as they traveled north in the 1100 block of Shrewsbury Road, near Hawks Landing. Knowing, though, the suspects were in possession of at least two handguns, Norder pulled in behind the accelerating Hyundai, being driven by Singer, and followed at a distance without lights or siren until additional units arrived to assist in conducting a felony traffic stop.
LPD Officers DJ Newton and Chance Anthony joined Norder as the sergeant activated his lights and siren at the intersection of West White Oak Street and South English Street, with Singer turning right (south) onto South Main Street and fleeing at approximately 70 miles per hour.
The vehicle entered eastbound Western Kentucky Parkway, with the pursuit quickly reaching 100-plus miles per hour as the fleeing Hyundai maintained speeds between 105 and 120 mph hour as Norder, Deputy Jason Luedke, Newton, and Anthony gave chase.
With Newton updating dispatch on the progression of the pursuit, police encountered little traffic as the chase left Grayson County and entered Hardin County.
State police, having been notified of the chase, set up spike strips at the 133 mile marker of the parkway, which flattened three tires on the Hyundai. The vehicle continued for about two more miles, with the chase ending near the 135 mile marker.
Upon coming to a stop, the three suspects complied with police commands and were taken into custody without further incident.
According to the arrest citation, in addition to the stolen lock box containing two firearms, the female juvenile had a handgun in her purse. Furthermore, three wallets, none of which belonged to anyone in the Hyundai, were found in the suspects’ vehicle. Also located in the Hyundai were a case of beer and marijuana.
Singer was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, theft by unlawful taking (firearm), three counts of receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking from a vehicle, unlawful transaction with a minor, fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle, speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, failure to wear a seat belt, and driving on a suspended/revoked operator’s license.
Tucker was charged with theft by unlawful taking (firearm), theft by unlawful taking from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, unlawful transaction with a minor, and possession of marijuana. He was also served with a warrant out of Bullitt County.
Both suspects were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center. The female was turned over to a family member.
Likely not coincidence, the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint regarding a vehicle break-in not long before the incident in Leitchfield began.
Additionally, Tucker was arrested in late September in Nelson County after he fled police in a vehicle previously stolen from Peonia Road. Tucker, in that case, was accused of breaking into vehicles in the Cox’s Creek area of Nelson County. When the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Tucker, the teen fled into Bardstown on Louisville Road before striking a utility pole on the town square.
Tucker was charged with fleeing, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Tucker and Singer are convicted felons, as well, as both were convicted in January 2019 in Jefferson County for first-degree wanton endangerment and receiving stolen property, with Singer also convicted of possession of a handgun by a minor.
(Headline photo: Grayson County Sgt. Fred Norder and Deputy Jason Luedke speaking with two of the victims not long after the pursuit ended)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
