ISP: 4 Louisville men arrested after stolen vehicle pursuit on I-65 in Southern Indiana
UPDATE: Fajardo was sentenced in October 2021 to two years of probation. It is not clear if the cases against the other men continued or were dropped, as no court records were available for them.
Four Louisville men were arrested Tuesday in Southern Indiana following a stolen vehicle pursuit on Interstate 65, according to police.
An Indiana State Police trooper had stopped a 2015 Kia passenger vehicle about 1 a.m. Tuesday on I-65 North near the 67 mile marker in Bartholomew County for traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph, according to an ISP news release.
After making initial contact with the occupants of the vehicle, Trooper Taylor Cosby "obtained information that criminal activity was taking place," the news release said.
While two more troopers from ISP's Versailles Post arrived at the scene to help investigate, the driver of the vehicle, Derek J. Fajardo, placed his car in drive and fled northbound on I-65, according to police.
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The Kia "made contact with" Trooper Taylor Ranshaw as it sped away, and Ranshaw was later treated for minor injuries, the release said.
Troopers pursued the vehicle on I-65 before it left the interstate onto State Road 46 into Columbus, police said.
Fajardo, 27, then made a U-turn and headed back onto I-65 South, according to the release.
The vehicle entered into Jackson County, where it struck a tire deflation device that Jackson County deputies and Seymour police officers had deployed, authorities said.
"Shots were discharged from the suspect’s vehicle during the pursuit," the ISP news release said. "Three firearms were also thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit and located along I-65 in Jackson County."
The vehicle eventually stopped on I-65 just south of Seymour, and all four occupants were taken into custody by officers with ISP, Jackson County Sheriff's Department and Seymour Police Department, according to the release.
The vehicle later came to a stop on I-65, just south of Seymour, Indiana. All four occupants of the vehicle were then taken into custody by officers with the Versailles and Sellersburg Districts, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Seymour Police Department.
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The Kia and one of the guns thrown from the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Louisville, according to police, and the four men also had marijuana in the car.
Fajardo was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting law enforcement, battery, reckless driving, possession of a stolen firearm, criminal recklessness with a firearm, obstruction of justice and possession of marijuana.
Jordan Griffith, 25, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, criminal recklessness with a firearm, obstruction of justice, possession of a firearm by serious violent felon and possession of marijuana. Griffith was also wanted on a warrant out of Louisville, according to the news release.
Breyon Bell, 28, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, criminal recklessness with a firearm, obstruction of justice, possession of firearm by serious violent felon and possession of marijuana.
Gualber Castro, 20, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, criminal recklessness with a firearm, obstruction of justice and possession of marijuana.
The four Louisville men were taken to the Bartholomew County Jail in Columbus, according to authorities, where they were being held pending their initial appearances in the Bartholomew County Circuit Court.
The men's cases were not immediately available in online court records, and it was unclear whether they had attorneys.
Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville men charged after I-65 stolen car chase in Southern Indiana
