Search for fleeing suspect ends in trash can

A suspect in a mid-day vehicle pursuit in Columbus was arrested by police after he was found hiding in an empty trash can behind a residence.

Steven R. Burton, 39, Columbus, is being held without bond on a 48-hour hold in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of:

A Bartholomew County warrant for failure to appear on criminal mischief

A Bartholomew County warrant for petition to revoke on failure to comply on resisting law enforcement, invasion of privacy and criminal recklessness

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Resisting law enforcement in a vehicle

Resisting law enforcement on foot

Criminal recklessness with a vehicle

Driving while suspended with a prior conviction

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Leaving the scene of an accident

Johnson County arrest warrant

A passenger in the vehicle, Natasha N. Carr, 27, Columbus, was arrested on a preliminary charge of false informing.

Columbus Police Department officer Frank Dickman observed a vehicle driving aggressively near Saddle Drive and Taylor Road at 1:30 p.m. Monday. When Dickman attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver — later identified as Burton — began to flee.

The pursuit turned onto 10th Street, where Burton drove across a raised median, damaging the vehicle. Burton’s vehicle, a 1999 Chevy Cavalier, lost a front tire a short time later and continued traveling on the vehicle’s rim.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Sgt. T.A. Smith, who was off duty at the time, took over as the lead car in the pursuit when Dickman was unable to safely cross the median. Smith pursued Burton into an apartment complex, where Burton fled on foot toward houses to the north on 12th Street.

Carr, a passenger in Burton’s car, remained inside the vehicle.

Additional officers arrived in the area, including off-duty Columbus police officers Brian Voyles and Travis Harbaugh. The officers searched the area for Burton and Voyles located him a short time later, hiding inside an empty trash can behind a residence in the 2600 block of 12th Street.

Man arrested on auto theft charge

A Columbus man was arrested on a preliminary charge of auto theft after police spotted him driving past the truck’s owner as he was making a stolen-vehicle report to police.

Terry A. Barnhart, 34, is being held without bond on a 48-hour hold in the Bartholomew County Jail, according to jail officials.

Columbus Police Department officer Michael Butler responded to a parking lot in the 900 block of Marr Road at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Butler spoke with the owner of a 1998 Chevy S-10, who reported that his truck was stolen from the lot, said Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesperson.

While speaking to Butler, the truck’s owner heard what he believed was his vehicle’s loud muffler. Moments later, the truck owner and Butler observed the vehicle near Marr Road and Pavilion Drive, Harris said.

Butler caught up to the truck in his patrol car, a felony stop was conducted and Barnhart was arrested, Harris said.

The stolen truck, which appeared to be undamaged, was returned to the owner, Harris said.