By John Estridge
A Franklin County resident with felony charges was recently charged with more felonies, including battery on a police officer.
Steven T. Lakes, 44, was charged with Battery, as a Level 5 Felony; and Resisting Arrest, as a Level 6 Felony. That goes along with previous charges of Dealing in Methamphetamine, as a Level 3 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine, as a Level 5 Felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance, as a class A misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana, as a class B misdemeanor; and Possession of Paraphernalia, as a class C misdemeanor.
According to a Probable Cause Affidavit written by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Major Gregory Mehlbauer, the latest incident began for Mehlbauer around 4:45 p.m., Saturday, October 2.
Mehlbauer said he was off duty that day, but he had been contacted by FCSD Sgt. Adam Henson that FCSD Deputy Dusty Hill had been involved in a pursuit and when the pursuit had become a foot pursuit, Hill was injured and had requested an ambulance come to his location along Baltimore Street in Laurel. Mehlbauer went on duty at that point.
Henson told Mehlbauer, Hill was patrolling the Laurel area and saw a male he recognized as Lakes, and Lakes had an active warrant out for his arrest. The warrant was issued June 9 for Failure to Appear at Lakes’ initial hearing on the Methamphetamine-related charges.
According to Henson, Hill stopped Lakes, and Lakes ran from Hill. During the chase, Lakes allegedly threw a child’s bicycle in Hill’s path, causing Hill to trip over the bicycle, which injured Hill’s foot.
Mehlbauer found Hill in an ambulance being treated by Laurel EMS-3 personnel. Hill was shaking and said he was in great pain. He believed his foot was broken.
According to Mehlbauer, he informed Hill that he, Mehlbauer, would follow the ambulance to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville, where Mehlbauer would formally take Hill’s statement. Mehlbauer then went to Henson. Henson said Lakes had fled through backyards along Baltimore Street and was last seen heading to the railroad tracks.
People in Laurel told police Lakes would probably head north toward Connersville.
Henson assumed incident command for the search for Lakes while Mehlbauer followed the ambulance.
At the hospital, Mehlbauer took Hill’s statement.
Hill, who was in his deputy’s uniform and in a clearly marked FCSD vehicle, was patrolling Laurel. While on Baltimore Street, Hill saw Lakes working on a vehicle. Knowing Lakes had a warrant, Hill stopped his vehicle, exited it and made contact with Lakes. When Hill asked Lakes’ name, Lakes told him his name was John T. Thomas and his date of birth was November 23, 1978. Hill knew this was untrue as Hill has known Lakes and his longtime girlfriend, Jamie Hunter, for a number of years.
A child was standing nearby. Hill asked the child to get his mother, who is Hunter. Hill activated his in-car camera. Hunter walked to the location of Hill and Lakes.
On the video, Hill began talking with Hunter, and the female gasped. Hill told Mehlbauer at that point, Lakes began running north in between two houses. During the chase, Hill said Lakes threw the bicycle in Hill’s path, causing Hill to become entangled in the bike. He fell and immediately felt a sharp pain. Even with that, Hill got back up and took another 10 steps before collapsing.
Hill said he yelled for Lakes to stop but Lakes replied, “No Dusty. No Dusty.”
Hill then returned to his police cruiser and requested an ambulance.
After interviewing Hill, Mehlbauer went back to the Laurel location. Henson said Hunter also had an active warrant for her arrest, and Henson had her in handcuffs. Hunter’s warrant was for Failure to Appear concerning previous felony Methamphetamine charges.
Mehlbauer put Hunter in his vehicle, activated his in-car camera, read Hunter her Miranda rights and then began questioning her. Hunter said she knew Hill is a police officer. When Hill was questioning her, it caught her off guard when Hill asked her who Lakes was. It was then Lakes began running.
Mehlbauer asked if Hunter saw Lakes throw the bicycle at Hill. She said “it all happened so fast.” However, she stated Lakes would do what he had to do to get away.
Mehlbauer then took Hunter to jail.
Subsequently, Lakes was captured in Wayne County. From there, he was transported back to Franklin County to face charges.
If convicted of a Level 3 Felony, Lakes could face three to 16 years in prison. A Level 5 Felony conviction has a prison term of one to six years in prison. A Level 6 Felony conviction, could result in a sentence from six months to two-and-a-half years.