Three-county pursuit lands Putnam County man in jail

CLOVERDALE -- A minor traffic violation evolved into a three-county pursuit and ultimately the arrest of a Cloverdale man on four charges Monday evening.

Indiana State Police Trooper Colton Maynor was on routine patrol in southern Putnam County Monday evening when he observed a green 1993 passenger vehicle fail to stop at Fulton Street on U.S. 231 in Cloverdale at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Scott Cole

Trooper Maynor attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the male driver of the passenger vehicle accelerated and a pursuit ensued.

The vehicle then traveled north on U.S. 231 before turning east on Mill Street with the driver failing to stop at several stopsigns during the pursuit, and reaching speeds reported as high as 95 mph.

The pursuit traveled through Putnam and Morgan counties, eventually ending in Owen County when the driver lost control of his vehicle and ran off the roadway.

The driver then exited his vehicle, taking off his jacket and throwing it to the ground, State Police reported. The driver abided by the verbal commands given by Trooper Maynor and was placed into custody without any further incident.

The driver was identified as Scott Cole, 46, Cloverdale. Cole was medically examined at the scene by Owen County EMS and refused all medical care.

Cole also refused to submit to any chemical test offered by Trooper Maynor.

Cole was then transported to the Putnam County Jail where he was held on preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor; driving with a suspended license, a Class A misdemeanor; reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor, and resisting law enforcement in vehicle, a Level 6 felony.

Assisting Trooper Maynor with the arrest were Troopers James Crisp and Andrew Mattern.