LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man wanted on an escape charge only made his situation worse when he tried to go around stopped traffic while police were at the scene of an accident last week.
According to the arrest warrant, it happened about 7 p.m. on June 12. That's where police say 30-year-old Joseph D. Whelan tried to maneuver his vehicle through traffic that had come to a stop due to an accident.
Police say Whelan was in the process of using the shoulder of the road to get around the traffic when an officer stopped him and asked for identification. Whelan handed over his ID, but police say the officer noticed Whelan "inching up towards him" as he was standing in front of Whelan's vehicle.
That's when police say Whelan hit the gas and started "peeling through the grass, nearly hitting officer with his vehicle."
The officer gave chase in his cruiser with his emergency equipment activated, but police say Whelan refused to stop, speeding through two busy intersections.
Police say they broke off the pursuit after Whelan sped through the intersection of New Cut Road and the Outer Loop because heavy traffic made it too dangerous. A woman and child were in the car with Whelan during the chase.
Police later determined that Whelan had a warrant for escape and was operating on a suspended license.
He was arrested around 1 a.m. on June 19 at St. Andrews Church Road and Blanton Lane. He's charged with fleeing and evading, reckless driving, operating on a suspended or revoked driver's license, and two counts of wanton endangerment.
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Joseph D. Whelan (source: Louisville Metro Corrections)
