Staff Reports
A call to police about a “suspicious bulldozer” in the area of U.S. 31 and Hawcreek Boulevard led to a first for the Columbus Police Department — a bulldozer pursuit at speeds reaching … 6 mph.
Columbus police were notified at 4 a.m. Saturday that a bulldozer was spotted in the area of 17th Street and Central Avenue traveling on the roadway, and officers located it and attempted to make a traffic stop, said Sgt. Alyson Eichel, Columbus Police spokeswoman.
The driver, Adam Jackson, 26, of Gray, Kentucky, refused to stop, and led officers on a pursuit southbound on Central. Officers used an in-car public address system, and gave multiple commands for Jackson to stop the bulldozer, Eichel said.
Jackson continuously made obscene gestures to police throughout the pursuit, while reaching speeds as high as 6 mph, Eichel said.
CPD had three officers directly involved in the pursuit, and other officers, including deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, were blocking intersections on Central Avenue.
While continuing south, Jackson was driving over medians, near the People Trail, and at one point, officers were concerned that he was going to drive into Haw Creek near Third Street and Central Avenue, Eichel said.
Due to his reckless bulldozer driving behavior, Columbus police requested the use of the Bartholomew County Sheriff armored vehicle, known as MRAP, to prevent Jackson from driving into any well populated areas. The vehicle is similar to armored vehicles used by the military in war zones in the Middle East.
Jackson eventually stopped the bulldozer in a Cummins parking lot near Third Street and was taken into custody without incident, Eichel said.
At the scene, Jackson told officers that he had been “joyriding,” Eichel said.
Jackson was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was was being held on the following preliminary charges: Resisting law enforcement, vehicle theft and criminal recklessness.
Jackson was being held at the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $7,500 bond, jail officials said.
Eichel said that a pursuit involving a bulldozer was “a first for the Columbus Police Department.” No injuries were reported.
Columbus officers were assisted by Sgt. Andrew Dougan, Sgt. Jarod Aspenson and Deputy Matt Bush who helped by blocking intersections during the pursuit of the bulldozer and helped stop it with the armored vehicle.
The deputies said the decision to use the armored vehicle was made because none of the police vehicles had the capability to physically stop the bulldozer, which was estimated to weigh in at 19,000 pounds.
Investigators said they did not know if Jackson had any experience operating heavy machinery and were concerned that he could crash the bulldozer into a home or another vehicle during the pursuit.
“The MRAP was provided to Bartholomew County at no cost from the federal government early during Sheriff Matt Myers administration,” said Chief Deputy Maj. Chris Lane. “No one was injured during this incident. We don’t like to use this type of tactical vehicle, but we are glad we had it last night. This type of vehicle is a piece of equipment you hope you never have to use. However, when needed it can save lives and if the need ever arises again, we will use it.”
Lane said he believes this might be the only time investigators have ever deployed the armored vehicle for a pursuit like this involving stolen heavy equipment such as a bulldozer.
