A pursuit with police on Sunday spanned more than 15 miles and reached speeds of more than 100 mph before an officer and another motorist struck the vehicle, ending the chase.
Just after 3 p.m., police were called to a report of a theft of more than $400 in lobster, crab and bacon from Walmart in Franklin. When the officer arrived, the theft suspect had run from the store and drove south on U.S. 31 in the wrong direction, before crossing to the other side of the highway.
A pursuit began south on U.S. 31 and then getting onto Interstate 65 in Taylorsville. An officer and another motorist struck the suspect’s vehicle, before it eventually stopped and the driver and a passenger were arrested.
Police arrested Brian M. Hambrick, 32, of Indianapolis, who officers said was the driver, on charges of resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, failure to stop after an accident and theft. A passenger in the vehicle was not arrested.
Police used surveillance footage to confirm Hambrick was the person that had loaded a cart full of food at Walmart and then tried to walk out. When employees confronted him, he ditched the cart and ran to a vehicle waiting at a nearby gas station, according to the Franklin Police Department report.
Hambrick passed multiple vehicles during the pursuit on U.S. 31, driving on both shoulders, in the median and in between vehicles on the highway and going at least 110 mph at one point, according to the police report.
At the interchange with I-65 in Taylorsville, Hambrick swerved in and out of traffic to get onto the interstate and the Franklin police officer chasing him struck the back of his vehicle when Hambrick braked. Hambrick lost control and the officer struck Hambrick’s vehicle again, but he continued onto I-65, despite having damage to his vehicle, the report said.
Once on the interstate, a motorist driving a taxi pulled in front of Hambrick and braked to try to slow or stop him. Hambrick struck the taxi, which began swerving and then struck Hambrick’s vehicle, pinning it against the guardrail. Hambrick was able to get free and then struck the side of the Franklin police car that had been pursuing him, the report said.
The officer held Hambrick and his passenger at gunpoint until other officers arrived and Hambrick was arrested, the report said.
Hambrick, 936 Hawthorne Lane, was taken to the Johnson County jail, where he was held on $4,200 bond.
