A 19-year-old Louisville man is facing multiple felony and traffic charges after police say he fled officers Saturday with a 2-year-old unrestrained in the back seat during an early-morning pursuit on I-64.
Jason Weed, of Louisville, was arrested October 3 around 1:22 a.m. on I-64 westbound at the 22.4-mile marker in Jefferson County, according to citations filed in Shelby District Court.
Court papers show that Weed is charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle, kidnapping a minor, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, first-degree wanton endangerment, endangering the welfare of a minor, reckless driving in a work zone, speeding 26 mph or greater in a work zone, failure to wear seat belts, and failure to illuminate headlamps.
Weed is also charged with failure to signal or improper signal, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle, reckless driving, improper lane usage, and first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer.
According to the citations, Shelbyville Police Officer T. Chesser attempted to stop a black Nissan Sentra on I-64 for a traffic violation, and dispatch confirmed the registered owner had two active warrants.
Police said the car stopped on Buck Creek Road, then took off as the officer approached, nearly striking his patrol vehicle, then stopped again at the I-64 eastbound on-ramp where a female front passenger got out and tried to retrieve her child from the back seat before the driver took off with the child still inside.
The pursuit continued on I-64 with the vehicle traveling at fluctuating speeds of 40 to 100 mph, at times with headlights off and up to 95 mph in a 55 mph work zone, according to Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy J. Cloninger.
Deputies said the driver wove between lanes, drove on the shoulder to pass police, attempted to hit a marked police car, and struck a concrete barrier before being stopped.
Simpsonville Police made contact with the female passenger, who told officers her 2-year-old daughter was still inside the vehicle and not in a car seat, and that she did not know the driver. He was giving her a ride to Louisville, and that the driver said they were “all going to die” and would not let her exit before she forced her way out.
Police say the child was retrieved from the rear of the vehicle, not in a child restraint, and transported to a children’s hospital to be checked. Deputies reported finding an open alcoholic container, a glass pipe with white residue and a pill bottle containing Xanax in the vehicle.
Weed was taken to UofL Shelbyville Hospital for evaluation. He was scheduled for arraignment October 6.
Source: WDRB+WAVE
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