Staff Reports
A Hope man was arrested on numerous charges after he was accused of leading local law enforcement officers on an hourlong vehicle pursuit Saturday evening.
At approximately 6:20 p.m., Columbus police officers responded to the 4000 block of 25th Street about a tow truck driver who was attempting to recover a sport utility vehicle that was not returned from a test drive in Indianapolis, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
When the tow truck driver approached the vehicle in question, the driver, later identified as Aaron S. Wiley, 28, sped away, striking the tow truck driver’s assistant. The man struck by the vehicle was not seriously injured.
A short time later, a Columbus police officer observed Wiley and attempted to stop him; however, he refused to pull over. and a pursuit ensued, Harris said.
During the hourlong pursuit, Wiley struck multiple tire deflation devices in the 2011 Toyota Highlander as he traveled into Jackson County and back into Bartholomew County. The pursuit ended when Wiley drove into a farm field near County Road 850S in Jonesville and was taken into custody.
Wiley was transported to Columbus Regional Health for jail clearance and later remanded to the Bartholomew County Jail in Columbus on the following preliminary charges:
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury (Class A misdemeanor)
Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 felony)
Criminal recklessness (Class B misdemeanor)
Criminal mischief (Class A misdemeanor)
Two counts of leaving the scene of an accident (Class B misdemeanor)
Intimidation (Level 6 felony)
Theft (Level 6 felony)
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated-endangerment (Class A misdemeanor)
Wiley is being held at the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $41,000 bond.
Assisting at the scene were the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.