A police pursuit that began in Hardin County has ended in Grayson County, with the suspect arrested after an over hour-long standoff on the Western Kentucky Parkway.
Thursday morning at approximately 8:20, Grayson County law enforcement officers were notified of a pursuit entering the county on the westbound parkway. The chase was described initially as a “rolling domestic,” with Kentucky State Police and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office chasing an older model Toyota Corolla being driven by an as of yet unidentified male.
Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins, Chief Deputy Sonny Poteet and Sgt. Jason Luedke responded, with Luedke taking up a position just behind the fleeing suspect. Grayson County Constable Mark Stanton also assisted in the pursuit.
At 8:24, the suspect called Grayson County Dispatch, and, according to radio traffic, told dispatch, “I didn’t do anything.”
A few minutes later the vehicle nearly struck a police cruiser while driving through a construction zone, and apparently traveling through traffic cones onto a portion of the roadway that is currently shut down.
Speeds were reported to be between 70 and 75 miles per hour, with light traffic, Luedke reported to dispatch.
At 8:29, a private vehicle attempted to stop the fleeing vehicle by slowing in the roadway. Soon after, the Toyota crossed the median and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.
At 8:31, the vehicle reentered the westbound lanes, traveling west at speeds up to 85 miles per hour.
The suspect again called dispatch at 8:34 and said, “You all don’t listen. You all don’t know what’s in the car.” He then said something “bad” is going to happen if he wrecks.
The vehicle then began slowing to 60-65 miles per hour, and traffic was again described as “light” by Luedke.
The driver, for a third time, called dispatch at 8:39, with a dispatcher telling law enforcement that the suspect “insinuated” he had a bomb.
The chase ended soon after, at approximately 8:42 near the 95-mile marker, when the Toyota came to a stop on an embankment just off the westbound shoulder. Law enforcement summoned Grayson County EMS to stand by, as it appeared the suspect was ingesting Clorox (bleach).
The vehicle had no, or at least minimal visible damage as it sat on the embankment.
After just over an hour of negotiation, during which time the suspect threatened self-harm, the standoff came to an end at approximately 9:49, as the driver was taken into custody and transported to Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center.
Although the chase was described as a “rolling domestic,” it has not been confirmed that anyone was with the suspect in the vehicle. And if there was a passenger, it’s not currently known if the person exited the Toyota when it came to a stop, or remained in the car during the standoff.
The westbound parkway was shut down at both the Leitchfield and Caneyville exits during the standoff.
The suspect has seven outstanding arrest warrants out of Hardin County.
K105 will have more information on this story as it becomes available.
(Photo: The scene at the 95-mile marker of westbound WK Parkway as police negotiate with the driver)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
