Owen County—Friday night around 10:30, Indiana State Police Trooper David Cox Jr. was assisting Cloverdale Police Sergeant Charlie Hallam locate the driver of a vehicle left abandoned in a field near State Road 243 and County Road 1000 South. Evidence of alcohol was found at the scene.
While still looking for the driver approximately 30 minutes later, around 11:00p.m., Trooper Cox located a male walking south on SR 243 near Cunot, IN. As the male spotted the trooper, he fled on foot through the backyards of area residents. The suspect was apprehended a few minutes later following a foot chase by Trooper Cox. The suspect was taken into custody. During a search of the suspect, a small amount of suspected methamphetamine was found in his pocket and the suspect was wanted on an Owen County warrant for failure to appear.
Arrested: James L. Blankenship, age 31, of Cloverdale, IN.
Held in Owen County Jail.
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine (felony); and Resisting Law Enforcement (misdemeanor). Plus the Owen County warrant.
Assisting were Cloverdale Police Sergeant Charlie Hallam and K-9 “Chewy”.
The investigation into the abandoned vehicle continues by the Cloverdale Police Department.