On Tuesday, November 17, 2020, Officer Justice ran a license plate on a gray Nissan Maxima. The license plate did not come back to that vehicle. Officer Justice initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the Walgreens parking lot. The vehicle fled. The pursuit lasted several minutes and came to a stop on McClendon Ridge Rd.
James M. Whittaker, age 27 of Columbia, was taken into custody.
Whittaker was charged with Improper Registration Plate, Fleeing or Evading Police 1st Degree (Motor Vehicle), Failure to or Improper Signal, Disregarding Stop Sign, Driving Too Fast for Traffic Conditions, Oper on Sus or Rev Oper License, Drug Paraphernalia, Poss of Con Sub 1st Deg, 2nd Offense (Methamphetamine), Wanton Endangerment 1st Deg Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Reckless Driving, Traff in Legend Drug 1st Offense, Failure of Non-Owner to Maintain Req Ins 1st Offense, Failure to Produce Insurance Card, No Registration Plate, No Registration Receipt, Prescription Con Sub Not in Proper Container 1st, and Criminal Mischief 1st Deg.
Officer Lucas Justice was assisted on scene by RSPD Officer Hayden Phillips, RSPD SGT Nathan Antle, Kentucky State Trooper Billy Begley, RCSO Deputy Corey Meyer, RCSO Deputy Kenny Perkins, RCSO Deputy Nathan Ginn, and RC Constable Richard Wooldridge.
