Abandoned vehicle rolls across U.S. 23 after man flees during police pursuit

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA — A Lawrence County sheriff’s deputy apprehended a Rush man who was in a hurry to escape from law enforcement Oct. 20 so much so that he fled from his car, which rolled across U.S. 23.

James L. Roseberry, 36, of Rush, is charged with being a fugitive from another state, fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle; fleeing or evading police on foot and failure to appear.

Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Osborne made contact with Roseberry at Valero on U.S. 23 South, recognized him and said in the report that he knew Roseberry had an active warrant for his arrest.

When Osborne told Roseberry that he had a warrant, Roseberry got back into his vehicle, locked the doors and fled, the report said.

Osborne initiated his emergency lights and siren and pursued Roseberry southbound on U.S. 23, the report said.

Roseberry reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour and passed at least one vehicle on U.S. 23, the report said.

The pursuit went on for about the miles when Roseberry made a U-turn on U.S. 23 and almost entered the driveway of a residence just off the roadway, the report said. Roseberry then jumped out of his vehicle and left it in drive, causing it to roll across U.S. 23, the report said.

Roseberry fled on foot and ignored Osborne’s commands to stop as he pursued him, the report said.

There were multiple pedestrians outside in the driveway of the residence in the area where Roseberry made the U-turn, as well as oncoming traffic in the north and southbound lanes of U.S. 23, the report said.

Roseberry finally listened to Osborne’s commands and was persuaded into a prone position and handcuffed.

Roseberry was taken into custody and transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Johnson County.