Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Franklin man after he led them on a high speed chase from Columbus into Morgan County.
Deputy Sgt. Kris Weisner was stopped at Second and Jackson streets in Columbus at about 11:10 p.m. Sunday when a silver Jeep changed lanes and pulled directly in front of his patrol vehicle, deputies said. As they drove east on Second Street, the Jeep turned into a parking lot at a high rate of speed, and Weisner activitated his lights, checked the license plate and found that the Jeep had been reported stolen.
The vehicle was being driven by Jeffrey A. Cox, 30, deputies said. Cox turned the Jeep westbound on Third Street, and after reaching speeds up to 80 mph, continued westbound on State Road 46 as the vehicle then drove into Brown County, deputies said. Brown County Sheriff’s deputies continued pursuing Cox while Weisner went northbound on State Road 135 into Morgan County and later located the Jeep in a driveway in the 8400 block of State Road 252.
Numerous police officers were at the scene where Cox was arrested, deputies said. Morgan County Sheriff’s deputies told Weisner that a female passenger left the vehicle while it was in Morgantown.
Cox was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked before being taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of:
- Receiving/possession of stolen property
- Illegal possession of syringes
- Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence
- Driving while suspended with a prior conviction
- Resisting law enforcement by fleeing in a vehicle
- Reckless driving
Cox is being held at the jail in lieu of $36,000 bond, jail officials said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
