Staff Reports

A St. Louis, Missouri, man with a prior murder conviction was arrested on eight criminal charges Saturday evening after an incident that started with a drug investigation in Seymour, police reported.

Marlo R. James, 40, faces Level 6 felony charges of possession of a Schedule I, II, III, IV, V controlled substance, prescription fraud and resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, reckless driving and two counts of resisting law enforcement.

Those charges stem from a pursuit that started in Seymour as Officer Crystal Schapson was trying to locate a vehicle from Missouri for suspected involvement in drug dealing activities here, police reported.

A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle for a driving infraction. The driver of the vehicle stopped at TA Travel Center on the far east side of Seymour, police said.

The vehicle then fled the area, leading to a high-speed pursuit northbound on Interstate 65. After a short distance, the driver lost control in a construction area and crashed off of the roadway near County Road 700N.

The driver, later identified as James, fled on foot into a nearby woodline and was arrested by officers a short time later.

Items suspected in drug dealing were located within the vehicle, police said.

James was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 6:52 p.m. Saturday and is being held without bond.

A Level 6 felony is punishable by six months to two and a half years in jail upon conviction.

The Indiana State Police and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the investigation at the scene.

Police also learned James has a prior conviction for second degree murder out of Missouri.