A Seymour man was arrested after running from police on Interstate 65 during an incident over the weekend.
Jason Andrew Nugent, 41, faces a preliminary Class A misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement, preliminary Class B misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct and a preliminary Level 5 felony charge of battery of an officer after the incident with Reserve Officer Joe Francis with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Francis said he was parked off the side of the interstate near the 55-mile-marker north of Seymour at about 9 p.m. Saturday while workers were present at a construction site.
He said another vehicle pulled up and parked behind him, and Nugent left that vehicle and started walking down the interstate, Francis said.
Francis got out of his vehicle to attempt to stop Nugent as he was walking near passing vehicles and almost getting hit, police said.
Police said Francis caught up with Nugent and asked him to step over the guardrail for safety, but Nugent pushed Francis away, jumped the guardrail and fled.
Francis caught and detained Nugent while other officers arrived to assist.
Nugent was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown and was being held without bond Monday.
County officers Brad Barker and Aaron Wilkins and Reserve Officer Eric Browalski assisted.
Upon conviction, a Level 5 felony is punishable between one and six years with an advisory sentence of three years. In addition, the person may be fined up to $10,000. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by 0 to 365 days in jail with a maximum fine of $5,000.