A local man led police on a 90-minute pursuit at speeds up to 80 miles per hour while his girlfriend and an 8-month-old child were in the vehicle.
A Columbus police officer saw a 2005 Ford Focus without a rear bumper near Eighth Street and Maple Street at 12:05 p.m. Saturday, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
The officer saw a male driver and a female in the passenger seat, but did not see anyone in the backseat, Harris said. The vehicle’s license plate was in the rear window of the vehicle.
A license plate check revealed the driver, Kyle I. Pacek, 28, 3813 Camden Drive, had two warrants for his arrest, Harris said.
When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, Pacek initially led officers on a low speed pursuit on the north side of the city, Harris said.
Then, Pacek increased his speed and led officers out of Columbus into Bartholomew County, then into southern Decatur County and northern Jennings County at speeds approaching 80 miles per hour, Harris said. During the pursuit, Pacek avoided several tire deflation devices placed by officers.
At the end of the pursuit, Pacek had re-entered Bartholomew County and stopped in the 7800 block of South County Road 800E, Harris said.
Pacek’s vehicle was inadvertently rear-ended by a Jennings County deputy and Pacek left the car and fled on foot, Harris said. But he was caught by an Indiana State trooper a short time later.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
