Two people were arrested after a traffic stop by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department turned into a vehicle pursuit Wednesday morning.
At approximately 4:38 a.m., Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Sellers said he was inside the Circle K on West Jonathan Moore Pike when he observed a passenger car abruptly pull away from a gasoline pump, pulling the nozzle away from the pump as it sped off.
Fowler conducted a traffic stop at Exit 68 on I-65 at 4:40 a.m. when he detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, deputies said.
Deputies said that when they requested the occupants to exit the vehicle, the driver, identified as Lazerick Smythe, 23, Calumet Park, Illinois, put the car in gear and fled the scene.
A pursuit began, but as the suspect vehicle neared the 90-mile marker a Johnson County Deputy Sheriff’s deputy deployed a tire deflation device which flattened the suspect vehicle’s front tires, deputies said.
The vehicle came to a stop near the 91.8 mile marker, and the two suspects were taken into custody without further incident, deputies said.
Deputies said they discovered narcotics-related items and approximately $2,648 in cash inside of the vehicle.
Suspected liquid codeine and a THC mixture was located in infant feeding bottles, and loose firearms rounds were also located inside of the vehicle, deputies said.
A firearm was not recovered from the vehicle, and deputies later checked multiple locations and continue to look for firearms that may have been thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit, deputies said.
Smythe was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, and possession of marijuana and was being held at the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $8,500 bond.
Davell Jackson, 25, Chicago, was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, possession of marijuana, false informing, and on a felony arrant from Lake County. He was held with no bond.
