LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man was arrested after leading Kentucky State Police on a high-speed chase Thursday.
According to court documents, a KSP trooper was patrolling on Dixie Highway near the Gene Snyder Freeway in Louisville around 11:30 p.m. when he noticed a silver Chrysler 300 with expired registration. The trooper activated his lights and sirens to make a traffic stop, and the car pulled over.
When the trooper approached the car, he noticed a "strong and distinct odor of marijuana" and asked the man for his driver's license. The man, 26-year-old Michael Murphy, replied "No," driving off from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed.
The trooper pursued Murphy, who was driving without his headlights on and "well over 120 mph," according to an arrest citation. The pursuit continued to Joe Prather Highway at Dixie Highway, south of Abbotts Beach Road, with Murphy crossing into oncoming lanes of traffic.
Murphy then made an illegal U-Turn at a red light on Joe Prather Highway, traveling recklessly at more than 120 mph, his citation said. Troopers deployed stop sticks near the Patton Museum to the rear passenger side of the car. Murphy drove past at a high rate of speed, hitting the stop sticks, causing the wheel to turn back toward another trooper, "ripping the pocket off this uniform shirt," the citation said.
Murphy continued back into Jefferson County, near the LG&E plant, driving on the rim, turning on Pendleton Road and continuing for 2 miles before driving into a ditch of the right shoulder of Pendleton Road near Stanley Drive.
Murphy was arrested. According to his citation, police found a baggie of marijuana on him and more marijuana and rolled blunts were found in his car.
Murphy admitted to smoking marijuana during the pursuit, and said he ran because "he was scared."
Murphy is being held at Louisville Metro Corrections, facing several charges including speeding, fleeing from police, wanton endangerment and criminal mischief. He is scheduled to be in court Saturday.
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