OOLITIC — A man from Avoca was arrested Thursday evening after allegedly leading an Indiana State Police trooper on a high-speed chase while intoxicated. Elijah R. Hess, 21, faces a felony charge of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, along with several misdemeanor charges related to operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI).
The incident began in the evening hours of September 4, when a state trooper attempted to stop a silver BMW on State Road 37, just south of Main Street in Oolitic, after it allegedly passed him at a speed of 120 miles per hour. The trooper briefly lost sight of the car but caught up with it after it turned onto westbound State Road 54.
The pursuit continued as Hess, the driver, turned southbound onto Greer Lane, where the trooper lost sight of the vehicle again. The trooper later spotted the BMW at the intersection of Greer Lane and Indian Creek Camp Road. Hess then reportedly turned northbound onto Greer Lane before pulling into a driveway.
When the trooper caught up to Hess, he noted that Hess appeared to be impaired. Hess was taken into custody and booked at the Lawrence County Jail.
He has been formally charged with one felony count of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle. The misdemeanor charges include operating while intoxicated, operating with a controlled substance in his blood, operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of at least .08 but less than .15, and reckless driving.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
