Chronicle-Tribune
MARION,IN. A Marion man was arrested on numerous charges Thursday after leading police on a high-speed chase through two counties.
Joe Emerey Norton Jr., 33, last known address 1222 S. Maple St., Marion, was arrested Thursday after leading police on a high-speed chase through Grant and Wabash counties. He faces numerous charges, including fugitive from justice, resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, speeding, a seatbelt violation, driving while suspended and operating a vehicle without financial responsibility with a prior charge.
At 6:49 p.m. Thursday, Marion Police responded to a disturbance call at Second Street and Western Avenue. While officers made no arrests, they were given information about a suspect involved in the disturbance who left the scene prior to their arrival.
About 30 minutes later, officers were involved in a chase, pursuing that suspect.
“Thankfully, no one was hurt,” Marion Police Chief Angela Haley said.
Norton left the scene of the initial call in a blue Chevy Blazer. Officers, wanting to question him regarding the incident, were looking for him.
Another call into police dispatch indicated the vehicle was in the vicinity of 29th Street and Lincoln Boulevard. An officer located Norton, who waved at the officer and sped off.
The officer attempted a traffic stop in the 100 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue, but Norton accelerated his vehicle. At that point, the officer turned on his siren and notified dispatch that he was in pursuit of Norton.
Norton led officers through Grant County into Wabash County and back into Marion. Haley said officers reported speeds up to 100 mph while Norton was on Ind. 15 north of Marion. When he was on the wider roads, he drove faster, she said, but when he turned onto county roads, he slowed a little.
Officers set “stop sticks” on the road on several occasions during the chase, but Norton drove through fields to get around them, Haley said.
Reports from the police scanner indicate that officers were encouraging each other to be cautious while in pursuit of Norton. Haley said that he drove aggressively on the highway, swerving to prevent officers from passing him.
When Norton led officers back into Marion, he drove the wrong way on Adams Street. Sgt. David Day, who is trained in the precision immobilization technique, was able to get Norton abruptly to turn his car sideways, but Norton continued and accelerated into two police squad cars, Haley said, damaging the two vehicles.
Haley said Norton had several warrants out for his arrest.
“In the mail today was another warrant from Wabash County,” she said. “And that didn’t just come in overnight.”
In addition to the warrants, Norton is facing several traffic citations for last night’s incident.
“We are very, very fortunate that no one was hurt,” Haley said.
Norton is being held in the Grant County Jail without bond.