COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies arrested a driver after a pursuit at 7:59 a.m. Thursday that began at 10th Street and National Road.
Deputy Matt Bush saw a vehicle at that location who appeared to be visibly nervous and attempting to conceal his face, deputies said.
Bush ran a routine check of the license plate, which revealed that the plate was stolen out of Bartholomew County. Bush attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled from the Walmart parking lot and traveling through the south part of Columbus. During the pursuit, the driver drove through a bean field and onto a sidewalk.
On Gladstone Avenue and McKinley, the driver, later identified as Dominique Nichols, 27, of Columbus, fled on foot.
Nichols did not put the stolen truck in park and it rolled into a fence of a residence causing minor damage.
After a short foot pursuit, Nichols was apprehended. Further investigation revealed that not only was the license plate stolen in Bartholomew County but the truck itself had been stolen in Johnson County, deputies said.
Nichols was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for jail clearance due to a concern that he had taken methamphetamine.
Nichols is being held on the following preliminary charges: Resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, resisting law enforcement on foot, leaving the scene of an accident, theft of a vehicle, theft of a license plate and reckless driving.
Sheriff Matt Myers said Nichols has previously been arrested nine times in Bartholomew County since 2018.
Assisting deputies: Deputy Dustin Newland
Assisting agencies: Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Hospital EMS and Columbus Fire Department
