SCOTT CO. – Around 2 a.m. Thursday, Indiana State Police Trooper Clay Boley was in his patrol car monitoring traffic on I-65 near the Henryville Exit in northern Clark County when he observed a silver Chevrolet Equinox traveling north at a high rate of speed.
Trooper Boley clocked the Equinox at 95 miles per hour in a 70-mph zone and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Frederick Joseph Lewis IV, of Illinois, pulled to the right and stopped the vehicle near the 20-mile marker.
Trooper Boley approached the car and observed that the Equinox was also occupied by a female in the front passenger seat and a male passenger in the rear. Trooper Boley also observed indicators of possible drug use. The female passenger properly identified herself and was the car’s registered owner. Based on information given at the time of the stop, Trooper Boley was not able to correctly identify the rear passenger.
During the stop, Trooper Boley found that both the driver and the vehicle’s owner had suspended licenses. The information provided by the backseat passenger did not yield an identification.
Trooper Tom Basham arrived to assist in the traffic stop; however, as Trooper Boley re-approached the Equinox, the car sped from the scene and continued northbound on I-65. Both troopers gave chase, and the pursuit continued. The driver of the Equinox turned off all lights on the car and continued to flee at high speeds, at times exceeding 120 mph. The driver also straddled the centerline of the interstate instead of driving within a lane.
The Equinox eventually exited I-65 at the Scottsburg exit and headed west on State Road 56 before leading officers on several Scott County roadways in the Scottsburg area. Scottsburg City Police and Scott County Sheriff’s Department deputies also joined in the pursuit.
The Equinox struck tire deflation devices on Lake Road just south of State Road 56 and continued north on Lake Road. The Equinox came to a sharp left curve near North Lake Road and West Weir Road and could not successfully navigate the turn. The Equinox continued into the property of a factory on the Northwest side of this intersection and drove north through a field until reaching a wood line where it became stuck.
Officers detained Frederick Lewis, the driver, and the female passenger; however, the unidentified backseat passenger immediately fled into the woods. Deputy Reschar from the Scott County Sheriff’s Department began a K9 track, and the Clarksville Police Department and the Clark County EMA arrived to assist with a drone search.
A short time later, officers located the passenger, later identified as 25-year-old Christopher T. Johnson of Illinois, hiding behind a nearby factory. Johnson was taken into custody without further incident. Further investigation revealed Johnson was wanted on a parole violation warrant from Illinois.
No drugs or contraband were located.
Both Lewis and Johnson were taken to the Scott County Jail.
Frederick Lewis IV is facing charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle – Level 6 felony, criminal recklessness, a Class B misdemeanor, and reckless driving. a Class C misdemeanor.
Cristopher T. Johnson is facing charges of resisting law enforcement a Class A misdemeanor and on a warrant issued in Illinois for a probation violation.
