An Indianapolis man is in jail in Montgomery County following a high-speed pursuit in a stolen vehicle that ended in a crash.
Sharmari F. Graham, 24, of Indianapolis was observed by police at 5:46 p.m. Tuesday near the 34 mile-marker of Interstate 74 driving westbound at a clocked speed of 110 mph.
Deputy Caleb Berry attempted to stop the 2020 Infiniti, but Graham fled and continued traveling west on the interstate, continually traveling over 100 mph. As the vehicle continued into Fountain County, passing several cars, Graham lost control of the vehicle at the 15.5 mile-marker, hitting the guardrail and then continuing into the median where the car rolled over. Graham climbed out of the back window and ran across both eastbound lanes of I-74 and into a cornfield. A Fountain County deputy was able to catch up to the fleeing driver and take him into custody.
Police discovered the car Graham was driving was reported stolen seven months ago from Chicago. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with resisting law enforcement, resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, criminal recklessness, reckless driving, possession of stolen property, driving while suspended and possession of marijuana.
The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Fountain County Sheriff’s Office, Veedersburg Police Department, Indiana State Police, Fountain County EMS and Froedge’s Towing.
At approximately 9:11 p.m. Tuesday, Deputy Braden Mitchell observed a 2010 Lincoln sedan traveling westbound on I-74, near the 29 mile-marker, and noticed the driver acting suspicious. Upon learning the license plates on the vehicle were suspended, Mitchell attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
The vehicle accelerated to over 100 mph and continued traveling west on I-74. The vehicle hit multiple sets of stop sticks; however, it continued, eventually losing a tire. While the pursuit was occurring, the driver threw multiple bags of suspected narcotics from the vehicle. Once the vehicle reached the Illinois State line, pursuing units from Indiana terminated their involvement.
The Vermilion County Illinois Sheriff’s Office picked up the pursuit at the state line and the vehicle finally came to a stop approximately 4 miles into Illinois. The unidentified driver was taken into custody and jailed there. Charges will be sent to the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office on the suspect for dealing methamphetamine, resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, obstruction of justice, possession of methamphetamine and reckless driving.
The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Fountain County Sheriff’s Office, Vermillion County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office, Vermilion County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office, Crawfordsville Police Department and the Indiana State Police.
