A 27-year-old Owensboro man was arrested early Monday after authorities say he led law enforcement on a vehicle pursuit that ended in a crash before he attempted to flee on foot.
According to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, the pursuit began around 12:33 a.m. when a DCSO deputy observed a purple Chrysler spinning its tires and being driven recklessly near the intersection of East 5th and Crittenden streets. When the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated west on East 5th Street, DCSO said.
According to DCSO, the deputy pursued the vehicle, which turned south onto J.R. Miller Boulevard. An Owensboro Police Department officer joined the pursuit as the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed.
DCSO said the vehicle became airborne after crossing the railroad tracks on J.R. Miller Boulevard, then crashed near the front lot of Green River Appliance Company, destroying a road sign.
According to the sheriff’s office, the driver then fled on foot west on East 12th Street. Deputies and officers gave multiple commands for the suspect to stop before he turned onto Daviess Street, where he was tackled and taken into custody, a DCSO release says.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a bag containing suspected methamphetamine, according to DCSO.
The suspect, identified by DCSO as Jonathan S. Martinez, 27, of the 7200 block of Joseph Court, was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and for an evidentiary blood draw as part of the impaired driving investigation.
According to DCSO, Martinez told deputies he had consumed what he described as an “excessive amount” of alcohol earlier in the day. He was later booked into the Daviess County Detention Center following his release from the hospital.
DCSO said Martinez was charged with:
- First-degree fleeing or evading police (vehicle)
- First-degree fleeing or evading police (foot)
- Disregarding a stop sign
- Failure to wear a seat belt
- Operating a motor vehicle under the influence, first offense (aggravated)
- Reckless driving
- First-degree wanton endangerment
- First-degree criminal mischief
- First-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
