Man charged with endangering trooper during pursuit
Oct. 25—GRAYSON — A Grayson man was jailed after he led police on a pursuit that was called off at one point due to the suspect driving upwards of 90 mph into oncoming traffic on U.S. 60 last Thursday.
According to court records, the Carter County Sheriff's Department began a pursuit of a suspect, alleged to have been armed and suicidal, and requested assistance from Kentucky State Police Post 14 in the area of U.S. 60 and Wilson Creek.
During the initial chase, deputies said the driver, identified in court records as 26-year-old Nathan Campbell, struck a vehicle in the rear and drove at "an extremely high rate of speed into oncoming traffic," resulting in the sheriff's office terminating the pursuit.
The vehicle was eventually relocated and the pursuit resumed on Campbell Lane where Campbell allegedly endangered a trooper by driving toward them head-on before continuing onto Wilson Creek Road toward U.S. 60.
In an arrest citation, troopers attempted to stop Campbell by staging spike strips ahead of Campbell on U.S. 60, but social media footage capturing the chase depicts Campbell bypassing the spikes by driving through a church lawn, crossing a ditch and then turning west on U.S. 60 toward Grayson.
Per court records, the convoy of agencies continued to pursue Campbell, who had reached up to 90 mph and passed multiple travelers in no passing zones into oncoming traffic.
The chase continued into Grayson city limits, where Campbell led police down Robert and Mary Avenue and Rupert Lane before coming to a stop in Wendy's parking lot off of Carol Malone Boulevard.
Troopers report Campbell exited the vehicle and held a knife to his neck, resulting in a trooper deploying his TASER to no avail.
Campbell then ran into the fast food restaurant, still wielding the knife, where he was tased again causing him to drop the weapon, according to police records.
After Campbell was placed under arrest, per court records, troopers discovered more than 20 empty small vodka bottles inside the vehicle.
An arresting officer reported field sobriety testing was not conducted "due to the behavior and actions of Mr. Campbell and him potentially placing more lives in danger."
After refusing medical attention, Campbell was booked into Carter County Detention Center.
Campbell is charged with first-degree fleeing or evading, both by vehicle and on foot, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, one of which against a police officer, driving under the influence, reckless driving and resisting arrest.
All four felony charges, wanton endangerment and fleeing or evading, each carry a maximum punishment of up to five years in prison.
(606) 326-2652 — mjepling@dailyindependent.com
