GREENFIELD — The Greenfield man who led police on a high-speed chase through Hancock County showed signs of intoxication after his arrest, police said, and he now faces criminal charges related to the incident.
Officers chased Christian Emmons, 44, for more than 12 miles, reaching speeds of 100 mph, Thursday morning. He was charged Friday with felony counts of aggravated battery, auto theft and resisting law enforcement, along with misdemeanor counts of operating while intoxicated and reckless driving, court records show.
Emmons rolled the truck he was driving in the 1200 block of West County Road 100S Thursday morning, police said. A passerby, who called 911, watched as Emmons started his vehicle — which landed upright — and took off again, police said.
Police chased Emmons from Greenfield into New Palestine, where he crashed his car into a fence in the 4300 block of South County Road 500W.
Emmons had glassy eyes and slurred speech at the time of his arrest, police reports state. He refused to take a breathalyzer test, court documents state.
The truck Emmons was driving was registered to a family member, who told police she had not given Emmons permission of use her vehicle, court documents state.
Emmons drove into oncoming traffic, over several mailboxes and into yards during the chase, court documents state.
Emmons tried to run at least one officer who was responding the crash scene off the road, forcing the officer to drive into a nearby field to avoid colliding with Emmons, reports state.
“The defendant had a blatant disregard for the safety of other vehicles on the roadway,” court documents state.
Emmons is being held in the Hancock County Jail on $10,000 cash bond.