Florida man rams trooper’s car, pursuit ensues

Matthew Renton

MOUNT MERIDIAN — A Florida man is in jail on multiple charges after he allegedly rammed an Indiana State Police car Thursday and fled the scene.

At around 1:15 p.m., Indiana State Police Putnamville Trooper Colton Maynor was patrolling in eastern Putnam County when he observed a red truck traveling 77 miles per hour on U.S. 40.

Maynor activated the emergency lights on his fully-marked state police commission to conduct a traffic stop near County Road 600 East.

Once stopped, the driver attempted to exit the truck. Maynor ordered him to stay in the truck and to place his hands on the steering wheel.

Upon Maynor’s approach, the driver placed the truck in reverse and accelerated, ramming into the trooper’s car and pushing it into U.S. 40.

The truck then drove through a ditch, fleeing eastbound on U.S. 40.

Maynor quickly returned to his car and assessed the damage. Seeing that his commission was able to be driven, he pursued the truck at a reduced speed, keeping it in his sight.

Trooper David Cox Jr., was in the immediate area and was able to catch up to the truck near U.S. 40 and County Road 1000 East. Seeing that Cox was closing in, the truck turned south off of U.S. 40 onto County Road 1000 East and continued traveling on several county roads.

The driver eventually lost control of the truck while attempting to turn from one county road to another, spinning out of control and into a ditch, disabling the truck.

Maynor and Cox then conducted a felony traffic stop and were able to take the suspect into custody without incident.

The man identified as Matthew L. Renten, 35, of Green Cove Springs, Fla.

Upon further investigation, Maynor discovered that Renten displayed signs of impairment. He was provided the opportunity to submit to a certified chemical test, and those results are currently pending through the Indiana Department of Toxicology.

Upon being medically cleared at the Putnam County Hospital, Renten was arrested and taken to the Putnam County Jail, where he was booked in at 2:47 p.m.

Renten faces preliminary charges of Level 6 felony resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor reckless driving and Class B misdemeanor leaving the scene of a crash.

Formal charges will be determined by the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office.