North Vernon, IN - Wanted Drug Dealer Steals
Patrol Car While Handcuffed - Chase - Suspect Has Broken Hand
March 15,
2011
therepublic.com
A man wanted on drug-dealing charges in Bartholomew County is accused of stealing a North Vernon police car to flee from arrest after a traffic stop.
North Vernon police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at a restaurant on Main Street at about 7:25 p.m. Monday, according to police reports. One of the occupants, Kevin J. Ford, 25, of North Vernon was discovered to have felony warrants out of Bartholomew County for allegedly dealing cocaine and marijuana, and failing to appear in court in a Jennings County case.
Chief James Webster said his officers had been looking for Ford in connection with a drug investigation prior to the traffic stop.
Police handcuffed Ford, placed him in a squad car’s passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt. Believing Ford secured, officers then searched the pick-up truck he had been riding in.
While the officers’ attention was diverted, Ford slipped one of his hands out of the handcuffs, likely breaking his hand or dislocating his thumb, and climbed into the driver’s seat, Webster explained.
The low speed chase lasted only for about six blocks. Ford abandoned the vehicle at the west end of O&M Avenue and allegedly fled on foot underneath the State Street overpass. He was arrested behind a residence on North Elm Street.
Webster said Monday evening’s incident was the first that he knows of where a suspect has fled officers in one of NVPD’s police cars.
The chief wasn’t happy about the attempted escape, but said his officers followed their training and that Ford’s escape was a bit of a fluke.
The police car was undamaged. Ford told police he thought he had broken his hand while forcing it out of the handcuffs. He declined medical treatment.
Ford has been preliminarily charged with:
Criminal conversion, a Class C felony
Vehicle theft, a class D felony
Resisting law enforcement, a Class D felony
Illegal possession of a hypodermic needle, a Class D felony
Possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony
Escape, a Class D felony
Possession of drug paraphernalia with a prior conviction, a Class D felony
Driving while suspended with a prior conviction, a Class A misdemeanor
Two Bartholomew County warrants including two counts of dealing cocaine, a Class A felony; one count of dealing cocaine, a Class B felony; one count of dealing marijuana, a Class D felony.
A Jennings County warrant for failing to appear in court
A body attachment.
Another occupant of the vehicle stopped for the traffic stop, Billie F. Barger, 59, of Columbus, was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony; and possession of a hypodermic needle, a Class D felony.
North Vernon police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at a restaurant on Main Street at about 7:25 p.m. Monday, according to police reports. One of the occupants, Kevin J. Ford, 25, of North Vernon was discovered to have felony warrants out of Bartholomew County for allegedly dealing cocaine and marijuana, and failing to appear in court in a Jennings County case.
Chief James Webster said his officers had been looking for Ford in connection with a drug investigation prior to the traffic stop.
Police handcuffed Ford, placed him in a squad car’s passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt. Believing Ford secured, officers then searched the pick-up truck he had been riding in.
While the officers’ attention was diverted, Ford slipped one of his hands out of the handcuffs, likely breaking his hand or dislocating his thumb, and climbed into the driver’s seat, Webster explained.
The low speed chase lasted only for about six blocks. Ford abandoned the vehicle at the west end of O&M Avenue and allegedly fled on foot underneath the State Street overpass. He was arrested behind a residence on North Elm Street.
Webster said Monday evening’s incident was the first that he knows of where a suspect has fled officers in one of NVPD’s police cars.
The chief wasn’t happy about the attempted escape, but said his officers followed their training and that Ford’s escape was a bit of a fluke.
The police car was undamaged. Ford told police he thought he had broken his hand while forcing it out of the handcuffs. He declined medical treatment.
Ford has been preliminarily charged with:
Another occupant of the vehicle stopped for the traffic stop, Billie F. Barger, 59, of Columbus, was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony; and possession of a hypodermic needle, a Class D felony.
Barger is being held in lieu of $6,255 bond.