On February 3rd at approximately 7:30 p.m. the Rising
Sun Police Department was dispatched to the parking lot of
Tandy’s IGA in Rising Sun to investigate a male subject in a
black vehicle screaming and yelling a woman’s name.
Ohio County Deputies were then told that the black colored
vehicle had left Tandy’s parking lot and was traveling
northbound on SR 56. Deputies were also told that the vehicle
had struck the short concrete wall that divides the Tandy’s
IGA parking lot and the Dollar General Store parking
lot and that vehicle had backed into and struck the Tandy’s
IGA building.
Deputies located the vehicle just North of Rising Sun on
SR 56 and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Deputies observed smoke coming from the vehicle and observed
the right front tire to come loose from the rim. The
vehicle continued on SR 56 North on its three remaining
tires and rim.
Deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit and were told by Ohio
County Dispatchers that the Aurora Police Department had
Stop Sticks set up at the Laughery Creek Bridge on State
Road 56 North. During the pursuit the vehicle ran over the
Stop Sticks and it was confirmed by APD Officers that the
Stop Sticks were successful in deflating the vehicle’s remaining
tires.
The vehicle continued a short distance and then pulled
over and stopped. The driver, who was identified as Randy
K. Lester, was taken into custody without incident. Lester
agreed to submit to a certified chemical test and was taken
to DCH ER, where a blood draw was performed. Lester’s
blood test results are pending. The total length of the pursuit
was approximately 4.2 miles.
Lester was placed under arrest and chared with Failure
to Stop After Accident (Property Damage) a Class B Misdemeanor,
Operating While Intoxicated (Endangerment) a Class A
Misdemeanor, and Resisting Law Enforcement (Flee in Vehicle)
a Level 6 Felony
The Aurora Police and Rising Sun Police Departments
assisted. The Ohio County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind
the public that the fact that a person has been charged
with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is
presumed innocent until proven guilty.