Pursuit Lands Sullivan Man in Jail with Several Charges

Sullivan, IN – Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Justin Bell observed a vehicle, traveling north on US 41 near County Road 710 North, that proceeded left of center several times. The vehicle was a silver Ford Taurus with an Indiana registration.  Trooper Bell activated all his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.  The vehicle then abruptly turned south onto County Road 105 East.  The Ford Taurus accelerated as it headed south, reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour.  The driver of the vehicle, quickly realizing that County Road 105 East is a dead end road, turned the vehicle around and attempted to travel north.  The pursued vehicle then proceeded to drive through a yard of a local residence, striking a tree, which then disabled the vehicle making it come to a stop.  The driver exited the vehicle and ran towards a wooded area. Trooper Bell gave loud, verbal commands for the subject to stop, but the subject disregarded these commands and Trooper Bell pursued the subject on foot.  During the foot pursuit, Trooper Bell observed the subject drop several items within the wooded area.  Upon entering an open field, the subject stopped running, immediately lying down, and surrendering to Trooper Bell.  

Trooper Bell secured the subject and walked, with the subject, back to the vehicle.  The subject was then identified as Troy E. Kemper, 44, of Sullivan, IN.  Speaking with Kemper, Trooper Bell observed criminal indicators that led him to believe that Kemper was possibly impaired due to a controlled substance. Upon the arrival of additional police assistance, Trooper Bell went back into the wooded area and secured the items that Kemper had discarded during the foot pursuit. Once the items were secured by Trooper Bell, several field sobriety tests were administered to Kemper, in which he failed.  Kemper was offered the opportunity to submit to a chemical test, in which he gave consent.

Trooper Bell then conducted a search of the vehicle and of the items that Kemper had discarded on the ground.  During the vehicle and item search, 12 grams of methamphetamine, 130 syringes, and 22 round blue pills of alprazolam, which is a controlled substance, were uncovered.  It was also discovered that Kemper did not have a valid prescription to possess alprazolam.  Kemper was then transported to Sullivan County Community Hospital where he provided a blood and urine sample for a chemical test.  Kemper was then cleared medically, was taken into custody, and was transported to the Sullivan County Jail where he is currently being held. 

Kemper was charged with the following offenses;

Possession of Controlled Substance – Manufacture/Dealing Methamphetamine Level 2 Felony

Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 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

Assisting Officers:  Indiana State Police Trooper Brad Miller, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputies Melchert and Copeland.   

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.