A Grayson County man is facing 30 charges after twice leading multiple law enforcement agencies on two pursuits.
Saturday morning at 12:40, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Fred Norder was stationary at the intersection of North Main Street and Mill Street when he heard a noisy vehicle in the area. According to the arrest citation, the vehicle was accelerating then slowing down, “as if the driver was having difficulty driving.”
Norder began to pull in behind the vehicle but the driver, 40-year-old Daniel L. Portman (who also has an address in Louisville), “quickly took side streets in what appeared to be an attempt to avoid” the sergeant. Norder contacted the vehicle, a 1998 Honda Accord, at the intersection of South English Street and West White Oak Street, as he continued to, without activated lights and sirens, monitor Portman’s driving.
As Portman traveled on West White Oak, he ran the red light as he turned right onto South Main Street, according to the citation, and began driving erratically. Portman then turned, at a high rate of speed, into the parking lot of Crosspoint Church and ran a stop sign as he turned south onto South English Street. He ran another stop sign as he turned from South English onto West Lake Drive.
Portman ran another red light when he turned south onto South Main Street from West Lake Drive, continuing south on South Main, with speeds reaching 70 miles per hour.
Norder was joined in the chase by Leitchfield Police Department Sgt. Keith Harrell and Officers DJ Newton and Chance Anthony as well as Deputy Jason Luedke.
Portman fled police out of Leitchfield proper on Anneta Road, as he, at times, traveled in the opposite lane of traffic before turning onto Bear Creek Road. From Bear Creek he turned onto Carroway Drive with the Honda beginning to break apart, as Norder notes in the citation that “pieces of the offending vehicle began to fall off.”
Norder called an end to the pursuit at this time. The sergeant, though, continued to track the vehicle “from mud and tire tracks to the intersection of Airport Road and Anneta Road.” Norder then exited his cruiser as he could hear the noisy Honda still moving.
After checking the area and not finding Portman, Norder requested Newton travel down Bloomington Road and check that area. In less than a minute, Newton said he spotted the vehicle in the 1800 block of Bloomington. Without lights and sirens, as Newton had been instructed by Harrell to only observe for the vehicle due to LPD pursuit regulations, the officer followed Portman as he tried to elude Newton by driving through a yard.
Portman made his way back to Anneta Road where he turned south. Norder, parked at the south end of Bloomington Road, began to again pursue the Honda, along with Luedke, as the suspect continued south on Anneta Road toward Smitty City.
At Smitty City, Portman continued south on Anneta Road at a slow rate of speed, as the Honda began experiencing mechanical issues, according to the citation. KSP Troopers Casey Keown, Ethan Whitlock and Dillon Spencer joined Norder and Luedke as the pursuit continued south on Anneta Road before Portman turned into the parking lot of the Anneta Fire Department and then onto Dickeys Mill Road. Portman continued on Dickeys Mill before driving into a dead end and striking several trees.
Portman exited his vehicle and began fleeing police on foot before tripping over a rock, the citation says. He then fought with police as officers attempted to place him into custody, according to the citation, with police eventually cuffing the suspect, but not before using force to effect the arrest.
Portman was transported to Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. He was then lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center where he was charged with eight counts of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, persistent felony offender, two counts of fleeing or evading police (in a motor vehicle), fleeing or evading police (on foot), resisting arrest, two counts of disregarding a stop sign, two counts of disregarding a traffic control device, speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, two counts of reckless driving, two counts of improper lane usage, driving on a suspended operator’s license, no registration plate, no registration receipt, speeding 20 mph over the limit, third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal mischief, license to be in possession and failure of owner to maintain required insurance.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
