Four arrested after Lawrence County police chase

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA —A high-speed chase in Lawrence County Tuesday, Aug. 9, led to the seizure of 129 grams of methamphetamine and the arrest of four people.

Larry Joel “Beard” Maynard, 48, of Louisa is charged with second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, greater than or equal to two grams of methamphetamine; and tampering with physical evidence.

John Michael May, 50, of Rush, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, greater than or equal to two grams of methamphetamine; improper passing; first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle; and second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot.

Charles Hensley, 26, of Louisa, is charged with failure to appear.

Rachel Mills, 44, of Fort Gay, W.Va., is charged with failure to appear.

According to a release issued by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Chuck Jackson and Chief Deputy Mason Keefer observed a vehicle passing in a no passing zone on Ky. 32 west of Louisa at a high rate of speed.

“Upon activating their emergency lights, the vehicle accelerated to elude,” the release said. “The vehicle turned onto a gravel road and the passenger, Maynard, jumped out of the vehicle and threw a bag into the weeds as the driver continued.”

Maynard was apprehended by Jackson and Deputy Wells after a short foot pursuit, the release said.

Maynard had a bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine in his sock, and the bag he tossed contained a similar substance, the release said. In all, 129 grams of methamphetamine was confiscated.

May, the driver, continued the chase after Maynard jumped out, and Keefer pursued May and discovered the vehicle abandoned near a camper.

The release said they determined that May had fled into the woods, and they called for assistance. An officer from the Louisa Police Department arrived and went into the woods after May, who was eventually captured, the release said.

Mills and Hensley were at the camper where May fled on foot, according to the release. Mills had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear on drug charges, and Hensley had a warrant for flagrant non-support, the release said.

All four individuals were arrested and transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Johnson County.