Charles
Greenwood police arrested an Indianapolis man who led them on a nearly 30-minute high-speed chase across the southeast side.
Ronald Charles, 35, was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony; possession of a handgun without a license, a Level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement; obstruction of justice; and possession of cocaine or narcotics, all Level 6 felonies. He was also arrested on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle without ever obtaining a license. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will decide what, if any, charges to file.
Police were patrolling at 7:30 p.m. Monday on County Line Road when they observed a tan 2005 Lincoln with a license plate registered to a brown 1988 Chevy GMC. Police tried to initiate a traffic stop near County Line and U.S. 31, but the vehicle, driven by Charles, fled at high speeds, according to a Greenwood Police Department report.
Charles turned north on Shelby Street and began to throw multiple plastic baggies and money out the driver’s side window between Southport Road and Epler Avenue, according to the report.
As the chase continued northbound on Shelby, Charles tossed out a black handgun near the intersection of Shelby and Epler. He then tossed out a gun magazine and several rounds of ammo between Epler and Thompson Road, the report shows.
Charles turned east on Thompson Road, then north on Madison Avenue. When he realized Madison was closed, he circled back around to Shelby and went eastbound on Thompson again. He cut through a parking lot and began traveling southbound on Madison. He continued southbound for several minutes, then turned east on Epler. He turned north on Hardegan Street, then east on Thompson, then north on Keystone Avenue, hitting 100 mph in a 40-mph zone, according to the report.
Charles ran several red lights on Keystone as he continued northbound at high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic. He struck a vehicle on a tow truck, the report shows.
He turned east on Raymond Street, then south on Churchman Avenue, then cut westbound through a side street and went north onto Keystone again, continuing for several minutes, according to the report.
Charles turned west on Southeastern Avenue, then north on State Street, then east on Washington Street, where his car started smoking heavily before it broke down. He got out of the car and laid on the ground. Police took him into custody without incident, and the Indianapolis Fire Department was called to the scene, the report shows.
Police searched the vehicle and found several controlled substances inside a small metal screw cap container, multiple 9 mm rounds and a gun holster, according to the report.
Charles told police he ran because he didn’t have a license and had just got done smoking meth before officers attempted to pull him over, the report shows.
Assisting officers retraced the chase and located several illegal items in the street and on the side of the road that Charles had thrown out of the vehicle, including a large baggy containing seven small baggies with meth inside. Officers also located additional small empty baggies and some cash, including a counterfeit $20 bill, as well as the handgun, the magazine to the handgun and a meth pipe, according to the report.
The methamphetamine weighed 27.5 grams, the report shows.
Charles was taken to the Johnson County jail where he is held on $17,500 bond.
