By John Estridge
A Franklin County man was charged with five felonies and three misdemeanors after a failing muffler led to a car chase that went from Laurel to Fayette County, Saturday night, February 26.
Patrick L. Atkins, 49, Old US 52, Laurel, was charged with Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 Felony; Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, as a Level 5 Felony; Resisting Law Enforcement, as a Level 6 Felony; Obstruction of Justice, as a Level 6 Felony; Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, as a Level 6 Felony; Driving while Suspended, as a class A misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana, as a class B misdemeanor; and Reckless Driving, as a class C misdemeanor.
According to a Narrative written by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kyle Hartman, around 8 p.m., Hartman was in his marked patrol car, wearing a uniform, running stationary radar, facing south off Indiana 121 in front of the Laurel Elementary School, just south of Laurel.
Hartman said a Honda Accord went by his position heading north toward Laurel. Hartman could hear “its leaky deteriorating muffler.” After hearing that, Hartman got behind the Accord and activated his lights.
“The driver of the vehicle ignored my red and blue emergency lights and did not pull over,” Hartman wrote in his Narrative. “A pursuit followed.”
Speeds reached up to 70 mph, first up Kokomo Hill Road and then into Fayette County. FCSD Deputies Dusty Hill and Tyler Ford and Laurel Police Department Officers Bryan Reams and Roger Reams joined the pursuit. Also, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department Deputies Kyle McMurray and Justin Gray headed for that part of their county.
According to Hartman, the Honda Accord was driven erratically, often going into the wrong lane and running multiple stop signs. During the chase, “the driver of the white Honda Accord threw multiple pieces of flooring out the window in an effort to evade me,” Hartman wrote in the Narrative.
The Honda Accord stopped on South 290 West in Fayette County. That road is off Alpine Road west of Ind. 121.
According to the Narrative, the driver of the Honda Accord took off on foot away from the vehicle. Hartman pursued and quickly caught up with Atkins, eventually putting Atkins in handcuffs.
“After Atkins stood up, a small, plastic bag containing a green plant substance was found underneath him,” Hartman wrote.
Hartman said he read Atkins his Miranda rights. After Atkins said he understood his rights, Hartman began questioning Atkins. Atkins said he thought there was a warrant out for his arrest and that is the reason he fled in the vehicle.
Ford searched Atkins, and Ford found four small, clear plastic bags containing a clear and white crystalline substance. Later, a fifth baggie containing the same substance was found in a cigarette pack along with two burnt marijuana roaches.
Hartman said the substance in the baggies was methamphetamine.
Hartman then searched the Accord.
“There was white powder all over the inside of the car,” Hartman wrote. “I saw a syringe in plain view on the passenger seat of the vehicle.”
Later, Hartman was joined by FCSD Deputy Arin Bowers to further search the vehicle. Bowers located “a small, plastic bag containing a brown and white powdery substance in an Altoids can. The deputies determined that baggie contained heroin. Also found were two cellphones.
According to the Narrative, Atkins admitted to throwing an “8 ball” of heroin out one of the Accord’s windows during the chase.
Joliff Towing towed Atkins vehicle to the business’ lot off Yellow Bank Road.
Deputy Hill transported Atkins to Reid Hospital in Connersville. Doctors at that institution determined Atkins fit for incarceration. Then, Hill transported Atkins to the Franklin County Security Center. After Atkins was processed into the Security Center, Bowers interviewed Atkins in an interview room. The interview was recorded by video and audio.
“Atkins admitted to being in possession of the methamphetamines and heroin that was located on his person and in his vehicle,” Hartman wrote in the Narrative. “Atkins also admitted to Deputy Bowers that he was transporting and selling methamphetamines [and] heroin (dealing).”
Atkins told the deputies, according to the Supplement to the Narrative written by Bowers, that Atkins used the two cellphones to arrange drug transactions.
In the Supplement, Bowers wrote that Atkins admitted all the drugs found on him and in the car were his alone. The baggie found in his cigarette pack was for personal use while the other drugs found were for distribution. Atkins also admitted the heroin was for bother personal use and for distribution.
According to the reports, the police found 17 grams of methamphetamine and 0.5 grams of heroin. There are 28 grams in an ounce.
It was noted Atkins also received a warning for his “leaky, deteriorating muffler” and a citation for littering.
In 2015, Atkins pleaded guilty in Franklin Circuit Court to Burglary, as a class C felony, and was sentenced to four years in prison with two years suspended to probation. In August 2016, Atkins also pleaded guilty in Fayette County to Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, as a Level 5 Felony, and received three years in prison to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in Franklin County.
If convicted of a Level 2 Felony, Atkins could receive a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison. A Level 5 conviction brings a sentence with a range of one to six years in prison. And a Level 6 Felony conviction could bring a sentence from six months to 2.5 years.