23-year-old Louisville man arrested after high-speed chase in southern Indiana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man was arrested in southern Indiana on Monday night after refusing to stop when a state trooper tried to pull him over.

The incident started around 8:45 p.m. on East 10th Street, near Sportsman Drive in Jeffersonville, according to a news release. An Indiana State Trooper from the Sellersburg post attempted to stop a silver Nissan Ultima driven by a man now identified as Tyion Owens, 23, of Louisville.

The trooper initiated the stop after he saw Owens make "an unsafe lane movement" while cutting off another car without signaling.

"That pursuit started with a simple traffic violation," ISP Sgt. Carey Huls said Tuesday. "The trooper attempted to stop him."

Owens turned off 10th Street but did not stop, according to the release. He continued to drive on side streets while disregarding stop signs before returning to 10th Street. He then quickly accelerated in an attempt to get away.

The chase continued westbound on 10th Street "at extreme speeds" with Owens disregarding a stoplight and driving in the opposite lane for a short period.

As the Nissan approached the intersection of 10th and Spring Street a state trooper successfully used a tire deflation device but Owens continued onto northbound U.S. 31. He then turned around at Stansifer Avenue and headed southbound on U.S. 31, toward the Interstate 65 South on-ramp.

That's when a state trooper used a PIT maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique), causing Owens to lose control of the Nissan, bringing the chase to an end. Owens tried take off on foot, but was quickly caught by assisting officers from the Jeffersonville Police Department.

"That's why every trooper is now trained to perform the PIP maneuver, and the purpose of that is to end these pursuits, hopefully very soon in the pursuit process, safely without any injuries," Huls said.

A handgun and "a variety of suspected drugs and marijuana" were found in the vehicle.

Owens was booked into the the Clark County Jail on numerous charges, including:

Resisting law enforcement
Possession of a legend drug
Possession of a controlled substance
Trafficking with an inmate
Reckless driving
Criminal recklessness
Possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon

Owens is scheduled to appear in court on March 26, according to online records.

Also Monday night, an ISP trooper attempted to stop a blue 2010 G37 Infiniti for speeding shortly after 11 p.m. near 8th Street and Sharon Drive. When the trooper tried to pull over the car, the driver, identified as Franky Vasquez, 19, of Louisville, fled at a high-rate of speed. The chase started on side streets in downtown Jeffersonville, and eventually ended up going eastbound on 10th Street.

ISP officers tried to stop the car with stop-stick tire deflation devices but were not successful. Vasquez continued to flee from ISP and Jeffersonville officers, eventually colliding with two passenger cars at the intersection of 10th and Spring streets.

One of the cars that was hit was pushed into a tow truck that was sitting in the right lane of the crossing, according to the news release.

Vasquez continued to flee from officers and ended up on Interstate 65, going in the wrong direction, before ultimately coming to a stop on an off-ramp.

The first passenger car that was hit was occupied by two adults and two juveniles. The adults were taken to UofL Health Hospital in downtown Louisville with severe, but non-life threatening injuries, according to the release. The two juveniles also had non-life threatening injuries and were taken to Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville. The second vehicle that was hit was being driven by a man, who was the sole occupant. His injuries were also deemed severe, but non-life threatening, and he was also to UofL Health Hospital, according to the news release.

The two occupants of the tow truck were not injured.

Vasquez was taken to UofL Hospital downtown with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Officers said they found drugs and a weapon at the scene while they were investigating.

The investigation is ongoing, but numerous charges are expected following Vasquez's release from the hospital.

More Local Crime Coverage: