Police: Man led officers on chase with child, meth in vehicle

Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press
·2 min read

MUNCIE, Ind. — After a Dunkirk man led police on a high-speed chase in Delaware and Grant counties, officers learned he was traveling with his two-year-old son and meth in his vehicle.

Matthew R. Jinks, 21, was arrested Thursday on preliminary counts of neglect of a dependent, possession of meth, driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended.

In an affidavit, Chris Liggett, deputy chief of the Eaton Police Department, said he observed Jinks driving a Chevrolet Blazer Thursday afternoon at Ind. 28 and Delaware County Road 200-E, and was aware his driving privileges had been suspended.

Liggett said when he tried to pull Jinks' vehicle over on Ind. 28, the Dunkirk man first drove through a convenience store's parking lot and then fled north on Ind. 3, with speeds exceeding 90 mph.

The Blazer turned west on Delaware County Road 1000-N, and eventually reached the town of Matthews in southeastern Grant County, where Jinks reportedly fled from the SUV on foot. He was quickly apprehended.

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Officers found Jinks' girlfriend — Julie C. Hampshire, 21, of Albany — and their two-year-old son, along with a dog, in the Blazer.

A bag found next to the child's car seat was determined to contain a substance believed to be crystal meth. Hampshire's purse was found to contain marijuana and meth, the affidavit said.

The child was placed in the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Jinks was taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for a blood draw, and later delivered to the Delaware County jail. The former Muncie resident already faced a total of five charges in cases pending in Delaware, Howard and Jay counties — theft, possession of marijuana and three counts of driving while suspended.

Hampshire was also arrested, on preliminary counts of possession of meth, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and neglect of a dependent.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Man charged with DWI, neglect after police chase with child in SUV