Deflation device deployed for driver who refused to stop and threw a gun out of vehicle

A Linton driver who refused to stop last week on SR 59 near Midland ended up on SR 48 headed toward Worthington with an officer in pursuit. He allegedly threw a 9 mm handgun out the window, ran over a tire deflation device and kept going but then pulled over on a county road north of Worthington.

Darreus James Rainwater

Darreus James Rainwater, 25, Linton, was arrested by Officer Skylar Scott of the Jasonville Police Department following the incident that occurred last week.

Officer Scott was patrolling on State Road 59 near Midland shortly before midnight last Wednesday when he noticed a gray 2010 Ford Escape northbound on the highway. The officer activated his radar that showed the Ford was going 68 in a 55 mph zone. A traffic stop was initiated and the vehicle slowed down near SR 59 and County Road 700 North.

Rainwater was later identified as the driver who activated his hazard lights, slowed down then stopped at the intersection, leaned out the driver’s side window and started yelling at the officer. Rainwater then accelerated and took off on the highway at a high rate of speed.

Rainwater then turned east onto State Road 48 and Officer Scott said Rainwater threw two items out the window near SR 48 and CR 900 North. One of the items made sparks when it hit the road.

With Officer Scott following while Rainwater was eastbound on SR 48, Rainwater called into dispatch at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, identified himself and allegedly said he was trying to get home to see his son and he was not going to stop.

Other officers and deputies responded and GCSD Deputy Zachary Goad deployed a tire deflation device at the intersection of SR 48 and SR 157 but Rainwater drove over the device and continued on. He then turned onto CR 850 at the intersection of SR 157 and CR 850 North, north of Worthington, then stopped.

Officer Scott ordered Rainwater out of the vehicle, Deputy Goad arrived to assist, and Rainwater got out and was taken into custody without further incident. JPD Officer Ryan Van Horn and Linton Police Officer Nick Yingling then arrived on scene to assist.

During a search, Rainwater was found to be in possession of a smoking device with a burnt plant material and fully-loaded Ruger 9 mm handgun magazine in his pocket. Later, a bag containing a plant material that field-tested positive as marijuana was located in the vehicle before it was towed.

Rainwater denied that he had thrown a handgun out on the road, but when Officers Scott, Van Horn, Andrew Duguay and Deputy Goad searched the area where the items were thrown, they located a Ruger Security-9 9mm handgun without a magazine, but with one round chambered. A records check revealed Rainwater did not have a license to possess a handgun and that he has a prior conviction for burglary.

Rainwater was booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:56 a.m. last Thursday, April 22. His bond was set at $4,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He has since posted $450 and been released.

Rainwater is facing charges of:

• Resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, a Level 6 felony,

• Carrying a handgun without a license with a prior conviction for carrying without a license, a Level 5 felony,

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

He is scheduled to be in Greene Superior Court on May 3 for his initial hearing.