A man has been arrested after leading Breckinridge County deputies on a nearly 30 minute pursuit.
On Saturday night at approximately 8:00, Breckinridge County Deputy Donovan Barnes received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a McDaniels business at 9375 Hwy 259 south. As Barnes made contact with a Chevrolet Blazer, the vehicle exited the parking, according to the arrest citation.
Barnes began to pull in behind the vehicle, when the Chevy traveled back to the parking lot. Barnes ran the plate and discovered the registration had expired in 2019 and the possible driver of the vehicle had a warrant for his arrest.
The deputy pulled next to the SUV and made contact with the driver, 42-year-old Shawn Michael Foley, of Radcliff, who told Barnes he had no reason to live and that he was going to “take me with him,” Barnes wrote in the citation.
As Barnes attempted to open the door to the SUV while telling Foley to exit the vehicle, the suspect accelerated, “almost hitting” Barnes before leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed traveling north on Hwy 259.
(At 8:05, Grayson County deputies were alerted to the chase, with Deputy Wally Ritter positioning himself at the Breckinridge/Grayson County line on Lilac Road.)
Barnes then pursued Foley for “nearly 20 miles,” according to the citation, with speeds reaching just over 70 miles per hour as the suspect, at times, drove in the opposite lane of travel. As the chase reached the intersection of Hwy 86 and Hwy 401, an Irvington officer deployed a tire deflation device, flattening the Chevy’s four tires as Foley turned onto Hwy 86.
The vehicle continued traveling for about a mile before leaving the roadway. Police then took Foley into custody as he resisted deputies.
Deputies then observed a large knife in the driver’s side floorboard as well as “multiple open alcoholic beverages” in the vehicle.
Foley told deputies, after being read his Miranda rights, that he had recently smoked methamphetamine and was drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana as he fled police, the citation states.
Foley was charged with fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), five counts of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, attempted first-degree assault of a police officer, speeding 15 miles per hour or more over the limit, resisting arrest, reckless driving, possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, DUI, and third-degree criminal mischief along with multiple moving and non-moving violations.
He was lodged in the Breckinridge County Detention Center.
Irvington Police Officers Jason Ballman and Josh Jackson assisted Barnes.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
