Erika Malone | The Tribune
BROWNSTOWN — A Scott County resident faces drug and resisting law enforcement charges after a vehicle pursuit began Sunday evening in Crothersville and ended at the entrance of the Jackson County Fairgrounds.
Richard E. Smith, 53, of Austin has been charged with dealing in methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, according to the Jackson County inmate roster.
Smith was booked into the Jackson County Jail at 8:34 p.m. Sunday and a bond was set at $10,005 during his initial hearing in Jackson Circuit Court.
More than 26 grams of suspected methamphetamine during search of Smith and a THC vape pen and suspected marijuana were found in the BMW, according to a news release from the Crothersville Police Department.
The incident that led to his arrest started at around 7:10 p.m. when Crothersville Police officers Derrick Minton and Jacob Sharp attempted to stop the vehicle after the license plate returned to a male who had a driving status of suspended with a prior conviction within 10 years on an identification card through Indiana as well as having an active arrest warrant out of Clark County.
Police said Smith failed to stop at the Marathon gas station, pulled out onto U.S. 31 and travelled northbound. He then continued to U.S. 31 and State Road 250 where he turned west onto State Road 250 toward Dudleytown. He also disregarded the stop sign at State Road 250 and County Road 700E.
Jackson County Officer Mark Reynolds attempted to deploy stop sticks where Smith disregarded the stop sign, but was unsuccessful, police said.
Smith’s vehicle continued west on State Road 250 toward Brownstown at speeds of as much as 105 mph.
Near County Road 350E, Jackson County Lt. Adam Nicholson successfully deployed stop sticks that made contact with the vehicle dropping Smith’s speed to 30 mph, police said.
Smith’s vehicle continued west before it lost three tires at State Road 250 and State Road 39. The vehicle came to a stop at State Road 250 and County Road 100S near the entrance to the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Smith was then taken to the nearby jail.
Assisting agencies include the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the Brownstown Police Department.