SULLIVAN COUNTY-  A Sullivan man was arrested on drug charges after leading police on a late night pursuit this week.

Troy E. Kemper, 44, Was booked into the Sullivan County Jail just before midnight Wednesday.  He faces the following charges:

• Possession of controlled substance - manufacture/dealing methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
• Possession of controlled substance - meth, Level 3 felony
• Possession of Level IV controlled substance - Level 6 felony
• Possession of Hypodermic Syringe Needles Level 6 felony
• Maintaining a common nuisance - Level 6 felony
• Resisting law enforcement -Level 6 felony
• Operating a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance, Class C misdemeanor
• Resisting law enforcement,  Class A misdemeanor
• Driving while suspended -prior,  Class B misdemeanor
• Motor vehicle reckless driving, Class B misdemeanor

Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Ames said Trooper Justin Bell noticed Kemper had dropped several items during the foot chase, in which the trooper retrieved after apprehending the suspect a short time later. A subsequent search of the suspect's vehicle and items that Kemper had discarded on the ground resulted in the discovery of 12 grams of methamphetamine, 130 syringes, and 22 round blue pills of alprazolam, for which he didn't have a prescription, Ames added.

Kemper ultimately failed several field sobriety tests and submitted to a chemical test before being transported to the jail.

According to the report, the trooper observed the northbound silver Ford Taurus driving erratically on US 41 near CR 710 N. The suspect disregarded the trooper when he activated his emergency lights to initiate the traffic stop, and instead turned south onto CR 105 E. 

ISP Sgt. Matt Ames explained that once the suspect realized that road came to a dead-end, he headed northbound through a yard before crashing into a tree. Ames noted that the Taurus had reached speeds of 70 mile per hour during the pursuit.

Kemper ran from the vehicle on foot to a wooded area after the car was disabled, despite Bell's commands to stop. When eventually entering an open field, Kemper reportedly got on the ground and surrendered to Bell.  

Indiana State Police Trooper Brad Miller and Sullivan County Sheriff's Deputies Melchert and Copeland assisted at the scene.  

​PUTNAM COUNTY - A man suffered life threatening injuries after being ejected from his vehicle on Interstate 70 in Putnam County today.

Witnesses told Indiana State Police troopers at the scene that the driver, Martin Samourian, 55, of Jeffersonville, was seen speeding and driving recklessly just before he lost control in the single-vehicle crash, eventually crashing into a guardrail. He was transported by Air Evac to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis.
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ISP Sgt. Matt Ames said Samourian was ejected from the vehicle due to failing to wear a seatbelt.  

Emergency crews responded to the crash scene on I-70 westbound, near the 42 mile marker, just after 11 a.m.

Samourian reportedly was attempting to pass another vehicle when he crashed. 

Investigation revealed the westbound 2005 Chevrolet Corvette was traveling at excessive speeds and weaving in and out of traffic recklessly.

"The excessive speed, and the grassy median, caused Samourian to lose control of his vehicle, sending him back across both lanes of Interstate 70 westbound, striking a guardrail on the north side.  The vehicle was then thrown back onto the interstate, spinning uncontrollably several times, before coming to a stop in the middle of Interstate 70," Ames said.


The crash remains under investigation pending toxicology results, and reconstruction at this time.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Cloverdale Police Department, Air Evac, Cloverdale Fire Department, Indiana Department of Transportation assisted at the scene.