It started in Linton. A driver failed to pull over for a traffic stop then led officers on a cross-county chase though Switz City, Bloomfield and eastern Greene County, then onto I-69, and back off of I-69. By the time he ended up at the bottom of an embankment in Daviess County, he was surrounded by officers from four police departments from two counties, deputies from two sheriff’s departments and the Indiana State Police.

James Anthony Hester, 47, was booked into the Greene County Jail around 7 a.m. last Friday, November 8. Sgt. Logan Hobbs of the Linton Police Department was the arresting officer. LPD Officer John Agan was the lead investigating officer on this incident. Court records list a home address for Hester in Elizabeth, Ind., but according to jail records, he is homeless.

LPD Officer Agan was on patrol in Linton on the night of Thursday, November 7. With Sgt. Hobbs riding with him, they were in the downtown area when they saw the license plate was not illuminated on a black passenger car that passed them. When the car turned, it didn’t signal the turn. Officer Agan hit the lights to initiate a traffic stop but the vehicle quickly made another turn, and another, traveled through a downtown alley, turned again and ended up headed east on State Road 54.

Officer Agan then hit the sirens as well as the lights but the car accelerated and did not stop, allegedly passing through multiple intersections without stopping, and on the road between Linton and Switz City, passed multiple cars in no passing zones.

The driver of the black car was later identified as Hester.

As the black car followed by the two LPD officers proceeded east, officers from other departments responded to assist and by the time this incident ended, additional personnel were involved from the Linton Police Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Worthington Police Department, Bloomfield Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Odon Police Department and the Indiana State Police.

Hester drove through Switz City and on into Bloomfield. Officer Agan said the black car was traveling too fast to be able to maneuver the curved area near the Dairy Queen in Bloomfield. The high rate of speed caused it to leave the roadway and travel through the Dairy Queen parking lot before it managed to get back on the road and continue east through Bloomfield on State Road 54.

Officer Agan reported on the way toward eastern Greene County, the vehicle continuously crossed the center line and traveled through multiple curves with double yellow markings using the west bound lane to travel east. The car continued on SR 445, going through the intersection of SR 445 and SR 45 disregarding a red light and nearly hitting another vehicle. When it entered a ramp to take I-69 South, it hit a curb on a roundabout.

According to Officer Agan, the car reached speeds in excess of 100 mph southbound on I-69. The Indiana State Police deployed stop-sticks between mile marker 76.5 and 77 and they were effective. Both tires on the driver’s side deflated and the vehicle took the exit ramp for SR 58. It was not able to maneuver properly on the ramp and it left the roadway as it was crossing SR 58, winding up at the bottom of an embankment.

Numerous officers secured the crash site, the vehicle, the driver and one female passenger identified as Christan Burton. When Hester was identified, a records check revealed his driver’s license was suspended. Hester allegedly said he did not stop for police because he thought he had an outstanding warrant.

Officer Agan said that during the standard search of the vehicle, officers located small baggies containing a white crystal substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine, and syringes. When weighed, the combined weight of the crystal substance from all bags totaled 9.9 grams.  

Hester is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court tomorrow afternoon, November 14, for an initial hearing when he will be formally charged with:

• Possession of methamphetamine, in an amount over five grams, a Level 5 felony,

• Unlawful possession of a syringe, a Level 6 felony,

• Resisting law enforcement with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony, and

• Reckless driving at unreasonable speed that endangers safety, a Class C misdemeanor.

Hester was being held without bond pending his appearance in court.