By John Estridge from court documents filed by Franklin County Sheriff Department and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office
After a high-speed car chase through much of the western part of the county, a fugitive from Rush County was caught near Laurel on Vanetta (Rabbit) Hollow Road Saturday night, Dec. 31, 2022.
According to documents initiated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Jamison D. Hunter, 25, Manilla, was eventually charged with Auto Theft and Resisting Arrest, both as Level 6 Felonies; a second count of Resisting Arrest, as a class A misdemeanor; and Reckless Driving, as a class C misdemeanor.
Hunter had an outstanding warrant from the Rush County Circuit Court for his arrest for Probation and Parole violations, which had been filed Dec. 9, 2022, concerning a felony case in Rush County.
According to an Investigative Narrative filed by FCSD Deputy Dustin Hill, several police officers gathered near a residence around Buena Vista to serve the arrest warrant on Hunter. As the officers approached the property, a red passenger car with a body style like a PT Cruiser and having a loud exhaust left the premises, turning left on Longbranch Road and heading toward Stipps Hill Road.
Deputies Hill and Dylan Enzinger were in Hill’s police vehicle sitting on a private driveway off Stipps Hill Road. They witnessed the vehicle in question disregarding a stop sign at the intersection of Longbranch and Stipps Hill roads and then turn eastbound (toward U.S. 52) on Stipps Hill Road
When Hill tried to make a traffic stop, the vehicle in question sped away. Hill’s in-car video and his audio recording system were activated. He said the roads taken during the pursuit were wet.
Hill said his vehicle was near 100 mph on Stipps Hill Road in pursuit and was not gaining on the vehicle he was chasing. The person driving the vehicle turned westbound on U.S. 52, again disregarding the stop sign, and then reached speeds up to 90 mph on Jackson Hill and farther west on the curvy, hilly highway.
According to Hill, the vehicle being chased went left of center several times and there was traffic in the eastbound lane during the chase. From U.S. 52, the chase went left on Chapel Road where speeds reached in excess of 70 mph. From Chapel Road, the chase went onto Bulltown Road where the speed went in excess of 80 mph.
During the chase, Enzinger was able to see the license plate information and it was discovered the vehicle belonged to a male from Laurel.
As the chase progressed, heading once again for U.S. 52, FCSD Deputy Kyle Hartman attempted to use Stop Sticks at the intersection of Bulltown Road and U.S. 52. However, the vehicle’s driver swerved off the road to the right to avoid the Stop Sticks. Another stop sign was blown, according to Hill, as the chase went east on U.S. 52. The speed on the highway was in excess of 80 mph.
From U.S. 52, the vehicle then went eastbound on Old U.S. 52 at Lakeview. Speed on that road was in excess of 70 mph.
The vehicle then went left (north) onto Vanetta (Rabbit) Hollow Road. While on Vanetta Hollow Road, Hill believes the combination of road conditions and speed caused the vehicle’s driver to lose control, causing the vehicle to travel off the left side of the road into a gravel parking lot. Hill pulled into the parking lot and collided with the vehicle’s passenger side. Somehow the vehicle kept going and went back onto Vanetta Hollow Road. This caused Laurel Police Officer Roger Reams’ vehicle to collide with the vehicle being chased on the right rear quarter panel. Spinning 180 degrees, the vehicle being chased went over an embankment on the road’s east side.
All the officers approached the vehicle and the driver was ordered out of the vehicle. Hill recognized the driver as Hunter. Hill said Hunter was taken to the ground for officer safety and to make sure Hunter was not carrying any weapons. During this time span, Hill said Hunter continued resisting arrest as he kicked at the officers.
EMS personnel were called to the scene to examine Hunter for any injuries and to treat Reams’ hand which was cut as he reached into the vehicle containing Hunter.
Indiana State Police were called to the scene to investigate the accident, and Ron Jolliff Towing was asked to tow the car which held Hunter and Reams’ police car.
EMS transported Hunter to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville to see if Hunter was well enough to be incarcerated. Hunter was accompanied to the hospital by FCSD Deputies Tyler Ford and Chris Maxie.
While the others were still at the accident scene, Hill was told by Franklin County Communications the Laurel resident who owns the vehicle had just reported it stolen by his cousin, who he identified as Hunter.
After medical personnel cleared Hunter for incarceration, Hunter was transported to Franklin County Security Center, and Rush County authorities were notified.
In the Rush County case where the warrant was issued, Hunter pleaded guilty to Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, as a Level 6 Felony and Reckless Driving, as a misdemeanor. Charges of Criminal Confinement in a Vehicle, as a Level 5 Felony; and Resisting Arrest Using a Vehicle, as a Level 6 felony, were dismissed.
If convicted of the Franklin County charges, Hunter could receive six months to 2.5 years in the Franklin County Security Center on each Level 6 Felony charge. Hill said he was assisted in this situation by the beforementioned Franklin County deputies and Laurel Police Officer Reams as well as Conservation Officers Michael Long, Travis Wooley and Chris Southerland