Columbus man arrested after I-65 police chase ends on southside

Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies, assisted by other police agencies, arrested an Indianapolis man on several charges after a vehicle chase on Interstate 65 in Bartholomew County.

At 8:28 p.m. Wednesday, Deputy Maximino Medina was in the area of North U.S. 31 and West County Road 550N on a regular patrol. Medina observed a red Ford Fusion traveling approximately 36 mph in a 55 mph zone, said Sgt. Dane Duke, Bartholomew County Sheriff spokesman. While Medina was closing the distance with the vehicle, he observed it stop abruptly in the roadway, then continue northbound on North U.S. 31.

Medina attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle on the northbound I-65 on ramp, Duke said. The vehicle failed to stop, continuing to travel northbound on I-65 which included making multiple lane changes, driving on the shoulder and traveling at varying speeds. The vehicle struck six successful tire deflation devices from multiple assisting agencies during the pursuit.

An officer from the Beech Grove Police Deptartment successfully executed a PIT maneuver at the 103-mile marker as the vehicle was traveling at 24 mph. This is near Southport Road on Indianapolis’ southside.

A high risk traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle after the PIT maneuver during which the driver, Donald Seawood, 71, Indianapolis, was removed from the driver’s seat and taken into custody, Duke said.

Seawood was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle and operating a vehicle without a license.

Seawood remains in custody with a $7,500 bond, jail officials said.

Seawood’s publicly available past arrest records revealed three previous cases of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle charges, according to court records.

This story is by The (Columbus) Republic. The Daily Journal contributed.