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Burk apprehended after latest chase in Clay County
BRAZIL -- A police chase along rural roads near the Putnam/Clay county line Monday night ended with three arrests, including one suspect who had been on the lam since late January.
That suspect, Tracey W. Burk, 45, of Reelsville and Brazil, was wanted in connection with a kidnapping, criminal confinement and battery case in Clay County and also had active warrants in other jurisdictions.
Burk had successfully eluded capture following a separate vehicle pursuit in Putnam and Owen counties on Jan. 30.
However, shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, Burk's luck began to change when a Clay County deputy attempted to stop a Chevrolet truck for various traffic violations, but ended up in pursuit of the vehicle for several miles of icy rural roads.
Authorities reportedly witnessed a passenger throw items from the truck during the chase. Those items, later discovered by a department K9, were proven to be narcotics, Clay County Chief Deputy Josh Clarke said.
The suspects gave up their flight after law enforcement gathered on U.S. 40 and County Road 500 East in eastern Clay County, authorities said.
"Once the driver saw police emergency lights ahead, the silver-and-black Chevy truck came to a complete stop and three sets of hands were observed by the pursuing deputy," the police report states. "Occupants of the vehicle were secured without incident."
Along with Burk, police arrested Woodrow Hill, 44, and Sarah Sparks, 26, both of Brazil.
Hill was preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement and for assisting Burk in avoiding apprehension.
Sparks was detained on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court on a driving offense and preliminarily charged for her involvement in assisting Burk.
Burk appeared for an initial hearing in Clay Circuit Court Tuesday, pleading not guilty. A public defender was appointed on his behalf.
In the January incident, Putnam County authorities spotted Burk, who was known to be wanted by authorities in Clay County, as he rode as a passenger in a 1999 Ford Explorer driven by Kurt M. Taylor, 51, Brazil. Taylor, who has already made an initial appearance in Putnam Superior Court, was arrested but Burk escaped on foot after police made several attempts to stop the vehicle in a pursuit that began about 5:30 a.m.
Burk's flight from police initiated an unsuccessful manhunt in a heavily wooded area near the Putnam-Owen county line. The search was called off after noon that day.
Burk and four other Brazil residents have now been arrested for their alleged involvement in a December Clay County incident in which they allegedly kidnapped an adult male, and beat him with a frying pan, baton and machete.
Appearing in Clay Circuit Court Tuesday for an initial hearing, Burk pleaded not guilty. Bbond was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent allowed and a public defender was appointed for him.
All five suspects in the December Clay County incident are facing Level 2 felony counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping. They also face Level 3 felony counts of criminal confinement, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and robbery resulting in bodily injury, and Level 5 felony counts of conspiracy to commit battery with bodily injury and battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
Burk is not scheduled to appear in court again in Clay County until a pre-trial conference April 28. A jury trial has been scheduled for June 15.
Assisting in the pursuit Monday night were personnel from the Indiana State Police, Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Cloverdale Police Department and the Brazil City Police.
As a result of the earlier Putnam County pursuit, Taylor is facing a Level 6 felony count of resisting law enforcement, punishable by six months to 2-1/2 years in prison. His bond was set at $10,000 cash due to his alleged involvement in Burk's flight.
It was uncertain Wednesday when and if Burk would be brought to Putnam County to face charges from the January incident.