FRANKFORT, Ind. -- A police chase that seriously injured another driver. A woman who allegedly called in a fake bomb threat at a local Walmart. Frankfort police arrested two individuals who it said went to great lengths to avoid being taken into custody on Tuesday.
Officers with the special operations division of the Frankfort Police Department were observing a "known drug house" in the 450 block of W. Ohio Street on Tuesday when officers reportedly observed a man, identified as 33-year-old Jonathan Worth, exit the residence.
FPD said officers continued following Worth and decided to pull his vehicle over after seeing him commit a traffic violation near Jefferson and John Streets.
The driver ignored the officer's commands to pull over and continued fleeing westbound onto Kyger Street, according to FPD. As officers followed, the suspect reportedly struck a vehicle after traveling in the wrong direction on a one-way street in the area.
Worth and the driver of the other vehicle were then transported to IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette for medical treatment. While the full extent of Worth's injuries was not disclosed, FPD said his injuries prevented officers from transporting him to the jail. Worth currently remains hospitalized.
As police returned to the residence on W. Ohio Street, a female identified as 28-year-old Breanna Wessell, was observed entering the home. It was at this same time that authorities requested a search warrant.
FPD said the Clinton County Dispatch then received reports that a bomb threat had been made at a Walmart located at 2460 E. Wabash Street.
Bomb-sniffing K9s arrived at the department store to investigate. However, units did not find any evidence of a bomb, according to FPD.
Frankfort police said in the news release that it believed Wessell made the threat to ensure that officers would leave the residence on W. Ohio Street. Wessell was arrested on three warrants, with two of those originating in Clinton County and another hailing from Boone County.
“Today’s events were caused by two individuals who have a lengthy criminal history,” said Frankfort Police Department Chief Scott Shoemaker. “Our detectives will relentlessly investigate the bomb threat evidence to present a case to the Clinton County Prosecutor for charges. Our thoughts are with the uninvolved driver who was struck by Mr. Worth.”