Putnam man arrested after pursuit

A Reelsville man will face charges in both Clay and Putnam counties after a high speed pursuit involving the Brazil Police and the Clay and Putnam County sheriff's departments.

Around 1:21 a.m., Patrolman Jeff Bucklin attempted to stop a Ford Expedition in Brazil for several traffic violations. Instead of stopping, driver Timothy A. Cheatham, 41, turned off the vehicle's lights and fled at a high rate of speed south of the city.

Two Brazil police cruisers - one driven by Sgt. Terry Harrison the other by Patrolman Dennis Archer with Reserve Patrolman Jeremy Mace riding along - and one from Clay County Sheriff's Department joined the pursuit that went into Putnam County.

Putnam County Sheriff's Department personnel also joined the pursuit until the vehicle left the road and ran into an embankment.

When Sgt. Harrison left his cruiser to assist the driver, Cheatham turned his vehicle around and drove toward Harrison and Deputy Brison Swearingen's vehicle.

Brazil patrolmen Harrison, Bucklin and Mace fired several shots at Cheatham's vehicle as he attempted to ram them.

During Cheatham's attempts to drive away his sport utility vehicle drove over an embankment and rolled over. Cheatham resisted arrest while being removed from the vehicle by officers.

Cheatham was taken to St. Vincent Clay Hospital for minor injuries and later booked into the Clay County Justice Center on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.

Officials at the jail say additional charges are expected after the Prosecutor's Office reviews the case file.

The Indiana State Police provided a crime scene technician to collect evidence at the scene. Brazil City Police Chief Mark Loudermilk has requested an investigation by ISP.