Four-county Saturday pursuit ends near Bainbridge

The fleeing car from Saturday's pursuit, driven by Michael Sexton, 23, struck a telephone poll at the end of the chase. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN)

BAINBRIDGE -- Two Monrovia residents were arrested Saturday in Monroe Township after leading police on a chase through four counties.

Michael Logan Sexton, 23, and Stephanie Anne (Sexton) Hostetler, 41, both of the same Monrovia address, apparently fled an Indianapolis Airport Police officer when he attempted to stop them on the outskirts of the airport.

Michael Sexton

Refusing to stop, Sexton instead fled in his 1997 Honda Civic toward Interstate 70.

Sexton led authorities out of Marion County and into Hendricks and Morgan counties, eventually leaving the interstate.

The chase entered Putnam County in Jefferson Township via County Road 450 South. It was in this area that Lt. Gregg Slover of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department became involved.

Slover initially deployed spike strips on the suspect vehicle, which swerved into a field. The chase turned northbound on County Road 1025 East, and Slover followed, though not engaging in the pursuit.

The pursuit continued northbound, crossing U.S. 40 onto State Road 75 (and back into Hendricks County), with Slover still trailing the action.

Turning west on U.S. 36, Sexton led authorities back into Putnam County. He turned southbound on Washington Street in Bainbridge before Hendricks County deputies were able to spin him out, causing him to crash into a utility pole south of Bainbridge at the 90-degree turn at County Road 200 East and County Road 550 North.

Stephanie Hostetler

Sexton and Hostetler were detained without further incident and taken to Putnam County Hospital for evaluation.

The pursuit did not reach extreme speeds, according to Slover's report, with the pursuit ranging from 40 to 55 miles per hour on county roads and from 40 to 75 mph on state and U.S. highways.

Sexton told officers that during the chase he ingested approximately 20 Xanax pills.

Following examinations at PCH, both suspects were held at the Putnam County Jail on out-of-county warrants.

Sexton's warrants were for driving with a suspended license with a prior conviction and possession of methamphetamine.

He can now add to the tally a Level 6 felony charge of resisting law enforcement filed by the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office on Monday. It is unclear at this time what additional charges Sexton might face in Marion, Hendricks or Morgan counties.