The man wanted in connection with the theft of a trailer from Bud Hudson Youth Football is now in custody following a high-speed pursuit in Christian County Sunday.
According to the Hopkinsville Police Department reports, officers were in the area of Pembroke Road when they observed a vehicle that was associated with an individual who had several warrants out for an arrest. Officers attempted to catch up with the vehicle, which is when the driver reportedly took off at a high rate of speed.
The pursuit when onto the Pennyrile Parkway and continued to the intersection of Fort Campbell Boulevard and the Parkway off-ramp, reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour. At times he travelled on the wrong side of the road, nearly causing collisions and ran multiple red lights, occasionally running off the roadway.
The vehicle began to malfunction and started smoking, which is when the driver—identified as 46-year-old James Phillips Jr.—abandoned the vehicle by wrecking it into a wood line on Casky Lane. He then fled on foot, where he was quickly taken into custody.
A search of the vehicle and his person revealed drugs and drug paraphernalia, along with a firearm located in the backseat.
He was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment, reckless driving, numerous traffic violations, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Phillips was additionally charged with felony theft by unlawful taking in relation to the theft of the Bud Hudson Youth Football trailer—the trailer has been located, but the equipment inside the trailer has not.