Early morning pursuit lands Greencastle driver in jail

Sunday, February 2, 2014

CLOVERDALE -- A 31-year-old Greencastle man was arrested early Friday morning following a lengthy high-speed pursuit by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

According to the probable cause affidavit, at approximately 1:03 a.m. Deputy Kyle Gibbons observed a 2014 Dodge Dakota driven by Orland Lecile Cyphers III, southbound on U.S. 231 dragging a chain and traveling left of center.

"Once the light turned green (at the intersection of U.S. 231 and U.S. 40), the driver rapidly accelerated from his stationary position, causing the tires to grip and chirp," Gibbons stated.

Suspect vehicle stopped with chain affixed to rear of vehicle.

"As the vehicle passed my position on U.S. 231, just south of U.S. 40, I observed it to be pulling a chain along the roadway. Said chain was affixed to the rear of the aforementioned vehicle, and sparked as it skipped along the asphalt."

Gibbons followed the vehicle, which also was observed to be without a license plate light as well as operating with a broken rear taillight. He found Cyphers traveling right of the fog line, nearly striking a guardrail along U.S. 231 just south of South Putnam High School.

"I observed the vehicle travel left of center line in a manner that would impede the safe flow of passing traffic traveling in the northbound lane before quickly jerking his vehicle back into his regular course of travel," Gibbons added.

As Deputy Gibbons approached the vehicle, Cyphers took off at a high rate of speed in an attempt to pull away from the deputy, who noted he traveled in excess of 93 mph in an attempt to catch up to Cyphers.

"I then caught up to the vehicle on U.S. 231, just north of Interstate 70 and initiated vehicle stopping procedures," Gibbons said. "The vehicle continued to travel for a short distance before finally coming to a complete stop on U.S. 231, near the Interstate 70 on ramp.

"Prior to making a passenger-side approach to the vehicle, I stopped at the front of my vehicle due to the behavior of (Cyphers). The male driver was looking at his mirrors and through his windows in an attempt to locate me. As I began my approach to the vehicle, the driver rapidly accelerated and merged onto I-70 westbound at the 41-mile marker."

Returning to his vehicle, Gibbons initiated a pursuit on I-70, noting that his vehicle never exceeded 97 mph while Cyphers created a considerable amount of distance between the two.

"The driver completely shut off his lights and traveled westbound on Interstate 70 in complete darkness, only to be illuminated by the 20-foot affixed chain that threw sparks off the road as he traveled at high rates of speed," Gibbons said.

Cyphers then exited the interstate at the 37-mile marker, continuing southbound on State Road 243, and passing a motorist in such a manner the vehicle lost its right front tire.

Pieces of the tire bounced off the roadway into an adjacent yard and Cyphers continued driving on three tires and a rim, reaching speeds upward of 85 mph on County Road 1000 South.

The pursuit continued with Cyphers turned southbound onto County Road 10 East, which had particularly poor road conditions.

"Said vehicle then turned southbound on County Road 10 East, throwing rock and gravel onto my vehicle and into my windshield," Gibbons added. "Road conditions on County Road 10 East were particularly poor as the driver reached speeds of 70-plus mph while attempting to navigate seasonably tight roads and extremely icy conditions."

Continuing to travel without his lights, Cyphers slowed his vehicle in an attempt to turn from County Road 10 East onto County Road 1125 South, which caused the vehicle to turn sideways on the roadway.

However, Cyphers then accelerated and continued eastbound on County Road 1125 South, slowing to 20 mph and coming to an abrupt stop on County Road 50 East.

"(Cyphers) then threw his door open and began to jump from his vehicle with his coat over his right hand," Gibbons reported.

"Fearing a lethal encounter," the deputy continued, "I jumped from my vehicle, pulled my service weapon, pointed it directly at the driver, and ordered him to show me his hands."

The driver then turned and ran northbound on County Road 50 East with Gibbons holstering his service weapon and began pursuing him on foot.

Gibbons chased Cyphers for nearly 100 yards, ordering him to "get on the ground," before Cyphers turned toward Gibbons and stated, "I'm done," but continued running until Gibbons eventually jumped on his back and followed him to the ground.

Following the pursuit it was later determined Cyphers had a knife in his right front pocket and had a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit.

Cyphers also tested positive for amphetamines, Benzo and THC, authorities said.

Cyphers' preliminary charges include operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, resisting law enforcement and criminal recklessness. He is currently lodged at the Putnam County Jail without bond.

Assisting at the scene was Operation Life, Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputies Philip Troyer and T.J. Smith, Sgt. Gregg Slover, Cloverdale Police Sgt. Charlie Hallam and Patrolman James Martin.

Comments
View 3 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Well down Deputy! One down!

    -- Posted by chicagogirl on Mon, Feb 3, 2014, at 3:02 PM
  • It was the THC that did him in.

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights. on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 5:50 AM
  • What a bozo!

    1stamendrights--it wasn't the THC that did him in, it was the Deputy doing his job.

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 9:23 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: