Neidige
BROWNSTOWN — A Daviess County man was sentenced to four years in prison Friday in Jackson Circuit Court after pleading guilty to stealing a vehicle and leading officers on a foot chase in the fall of 2022.
Nicholas Eugene Neidige, 29, of Washington was arrested Nov. 15, 2022, after a warrant for his arrest was filed for auto theft, a Level 5 felony, residential entry, unlawful possession of a syringe and resisting law enforcement causing bodily injury, all Level 6 felonies, and driving while suspended with a prior conviction, a Class A misdemeanor.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Sept. 23, 2022, by Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Officer Justin Amos, he observed a white extended cab pickup traveling east on County Road 325N on Sept. 12, 2022.
Amos caught a glimpse of the driver, observing a male with dark hair wearing a baseball cap. Amos suspected the driver to be another individual who had a prior license suspension and turned around to catch up to the vehicle, according to the probable cause.
Amos lost sight of the vehicle as he traveled toward Clearspring. After arriving in Clearspring to an intersection on Sugar Street, he noticed the vehicle exit a yard turning south on Sugar Street. The driver then turned into another yard as Amos pursued, according to the probable cause.
As Amos started toward the vehicle, the driver jumped from the vehicle as it was moving and ran in a northwest direction. The driver was wearing jeans and a ball cap without a shirt, according to the probable cause.
Amos advised dispatch of the situation and license plate information, in which the vehicle was later reported stolen out of Bartholomew County.
A resident in the area spoke with Amos saying the driver almost ran him over and then ran past him on foot. Amos observed the immediate area and was unable to locate the male.
Amos then requested additional officers to include a K-9 and a drone operator to assist in the search. With the truck still running and in drive, Amos was able to shut the engine of the vehicle off, according to the probable cause.
Amos then performed a search of the stolen vehicle and located two syringes inside a black plastic box under the driver’s seat. Other officers in the area arrived and established a perimeter.
While the stolen vehicle was being loaded for transport, Amos observed another vehicle circling the area that matched the description of a vehicle belonging to a family member of Neidige.
Amos recalled the last time he had an interaction with Neidige, that same family member picked him up.
It was later determined Neidige matched the description of the driver who fled, according to the probable cause.
Officers then determined Neidige possibly entered a residence nearby and made contact with the individual who lived there. After obtaining consent to search the residence, Amos observed a loud noise and movement inside the residence before entering.
Before entering, Amos overheard officers call from the rear of the residence that Neidige had escaped through the window and started to flee, according to the probable cause.
A sheriff’s officer was injured in pursuit of the Neidige while jumping a fence, resulting in bruised ribs, according to the probable cause.
A K-9 was retrieved in attempt to track Neidige, but once nightfall came and rain started, the track was considered lost. The resident was not aware Neidige was inside and did not have a close relationship to him, according to the probable cause.
Neidige took a plea to one count of auto theft, a Level 5 felony, and will serve four years in the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown with a two-year suspended sentence for good behavior, two years of home detention and two years of probation.