A Leitchfield man has been arrested after leading police on a dangerous high-speed pursuit where the suspect swerved into the lane of an oncoming deputy and tried to crash into another deputy.
The incident began Sunday evening at approximately 7:30 when Grayson County Deputy Philip Wilt was stationary near the intersection of Owensboro Road (Hwy 54) and Sinks Road, as he clocked an eastbound GMC Sierra traveling at 75 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone.
As the deputy activated his lights and siren, the truck, being driven by 24-year-old Michael G. Escue, “accelerated at a high rate of speed,” according to the arrest citation, as it took Wilt “several miles to catch up to the vehicle.”
With speeds reaching over 100 miles per hour and Deputy Joel Baker traveling west to assist Wilt, Escue “swerved towards Deputy Baker, crossing the center line,” the citation states.
As Escue continued to flee, the citation says that he “improperly passed another motorist on a double yellow line, putting the people inside of that vehicle at risk.”
Furthermore, as Wilt attempted to get close to the Sierra to read the license plate, Escue “slammed on its brakes several times to try and cause me (Wilt) to rear end him.”
The vehicle then turned onto Ray Priddy Road, “continuing to accelerate at a high rate of speed,” according to the citation. The vehicle then left the roadway and traveled through a yard, reentering the roadway on Watkins Drive.
Wilt then lost sight of the Sierra, as Baker and Leitchfield Police Department Sgt. Chuck Hoover and Officer Brian Jennings searched the area for the truck.
A short time later, Wilt located the truck parked on nearby Leigh Lane and discovered that Escue, after parking the truck, had run about 300 yards to a residence on Leigh Lane.
Police went to the home and made contact with and arrested Escue.
He was charged with two counts of felony wanton endangerment of a police officer, felony wanton endangerment, two counts of fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle, on foot), careless driving, improper passing, and speeding 20 mph over the limit.
He was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center but is no longer listed as an inmate.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
