An Orleans man was arrested for fleeing police and auto theft in Gibson County.
At 6:00 pm yesterday, Trooper Chase Eaton with the Indiana State Police was patrolling State Road 57 near College Street in Oakland City when saw a white 2003 Ford F150 pickup truck matching the description of a stolen vehicle that was reported earlier in the day in Warrick County. The owner of the stolen vehicle warned police that he left his .22 caliber rifle in his truck at the time of the theft. Trooper Eaton checked the license plate and was able to confirm that the vehicle was the one reported stolen.
When the driver of the truck turned south onto North Main Street in Oakland City, Trooper Eaton attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver, who was later identified as 29-year-old Brandon Pool of Orleans, accelerated to a high rate of speed traveling on several different city streets before driving west on State Road 64. Pool then drove south onto Franklin Street passing Wood Memorial High School. Pool then left the city limits and began driving east on County Road 200 South. Pool continued east at speeds of over 85 miles per hour before heading north into a disked field about a quarter-mile west of County Road 1300 East.
Trooper Eaton continued to chase the vehicle through the field for about a quarter-mile until Pool crossed County Road 1300 East and headed into a bean field. Trooper Eaton Stayed on County Road 1300 East while Gibson County Deputy Loesch and Oakland City Police Cheif Tim Gaines continued pursuing the vehicle through the bean field with their SUV patrol vehicle.
Pool kept driving north through the bean field for about a half-mile to County Road 150 South where he attempted to enter a cornfield but got stuck. He was arrested without any further incident. After further investigation, it was revealed that Pool had three outstanding warrants out of Lawrence County.
Pool was taken to the Gibson County Jail where he as charged with a Class 6 Felony Count of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, a Class 6 Felony Count of Theft of a Firearm, a Class B Misdemeanor Count of Reckless Driving, and a Class 6 Felony Count of Auto Theft.
