Police Say Suspect Tried To Escape In Stolen Cruiser                       

Police say Suspect Is Addicted To OxyContin                                              
by Connie Leonard 

(NEW ALBANY, Ind., October 17th, 5:30 p.m.) -- There  
were some tense moments on the streets of southern Indiana 
Wednesday morning after a handcuffed suspect stole a 
sheriffs car and led police on a high-speed chase.

Police say it all began at Bel Air Motel in Clarksville Wednesday
morning when several police agencies were trying to serve warrants 
on a known OxyContin addict who was also wanted for burglary and
theft charges in several counties.

Apparently, there was also a stolen car at the motel, and police 
were dealing with the tow-truck driver when the suspect, who was 
handcuffed in the back seat of a sheriff's car, somehow managed 
to jump over the seat, lock the doors and drive away.

The chase was on from Interstate 31 to 131, with the suspect
driving all over Clark and Floyd Counties. He finally crashed 
the cruiser into a chain link face on Slate Run Road, where he 
was taken into custody again.

But not before nearby neighbors joined police in a short foot 
chase that ended at a nearby garage apartment.

New Albany Detective Sergeant Eric Higdon said 27-year-old Jamie
Lee Draper tried so hard to get away because he knows he is
facing substantial prison time if convicted of the crimes he is
charged with, and also because he fears going without OxyContin 
while serving time.

"He's an addict, an OxyContin addict," Higdon said. "This is 
something that has been in the media awhile recently. It's a
dangerous drug when it's misused, and he's actually using the
drug intravenously. There was a needle found in the stolen car,
and it was recovered as well.

Higdon said the track marks on Draper's arms were "unbelievable."

"His motivation for getting away is he knows he's going away
for a while," Higdon said. "And we've been told the withdrawal
symptoms from OxyContin are absolutely unbearable.


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