A Leitchfield man has been arrested after leading police on a pursuit that reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour.
Tuesday afternoon at approximately 3:00, law enforcement was alerted that a possible domestic situation was taking place in a moving vehicle on Cave Mill Road. Witnesses stated that a woman in the vehicle tried to exit a Chevrolet Equinox as it was being driven, according to police.
Leitchfield Police Officer Chase Melton fell in behind the vehicle on Cave Mill Road, with the driver, 42-year-old James Stacey Decker, of Leitchfield, fleeing Melton at a high rate of speed.
Decker turned off Cave Mill Road onto Lilac Road, and then onto Sunbeam Road, where Decker’s speed reached over 100 miles per hour as he traveled north. After traveling a few miles, Decker turned onto Claggett Road and from there made the turn onto Owensboro Road, traveling west.
Upon reaching the 9000 block of Owensboro Road, Decker turned onto a gravel road and initially gave himself up to police before resisting arrest as he was being detained.
Melton noted a few times during the pursuit that items were being tossed out of the vehicle. At several points in the chase, Leitchfield police and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office were forced to block traffic to protect drivers as the pursuit sped by.
Decker was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, unlawful imprisonment, fleeing or evading police, his third DUI (with aggravating circumstances), resisting arrest, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle, and reckless driving. He was also served with two warrants.
Decker has a lengthy criminal history, dating back to at least 2001, and includes drug, theft and alcohol-related arrests.
His passenger, 50-year-old Susan M. Saltsman, of Leitchfield, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both suspects are being held in the Grayson County Detention Center.
Assisting Melton in and after the pursuit were LPD Sgt. Robert Jackson, Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins and GCSO Sgt. Fred Norder, along with other officers and deputies.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
