Johnson man arrested after three-county chase

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA — A Johnson County man was arrested Friday in Lawrence County after leading police on a high-speed chase through three counties.

William V. Hicks, 40, of Sitka, is charged with reckless driving; two counts of first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle; first-degree fleeing nor evading police on foot; two counts of operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license; improper display of registration plates; failure of owner to maintain required insurance; resisting arrest; driving on a DUI suspended license, aggravating circumstance; first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer; prescription of a controlled substance not in the proper container; and first-degree possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

According to the arrest report, a traffic stop was attempted on a motorcycle on Ky. 825 in Johnson County for no visible plates, but the driver, Hicks, refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit traveled Ky. 825 to Ky. 460 and then into Magoffin County, where the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit, Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Castle said in the police report.

Hicks turned around and started back eastbound on Ky. 460, onto Ky. 825 toward Ky. 40 and then traveled Ky. 40 east to U.S. 23, the report said. Once on U.S. 23, Hicks started traveling south toward Floyd County, but changed direction again and started going north, the report said.

The pursuit continued into Lawrence County at speeds of up to 133 miles per hour, the report said, and Hicks showed no regard for other traffic or the law enforcement officers in pursuit.

Hicks continued changing lanes between vehicles and ran off on the shoulder of the road in an attempt to evade Castle, the report said.

The pursuit finally came to a stop in Lawrence County in front of Tractor Supply Store on U.S. 23, the report said.

After stopping, Hicks got off the motorcycle and was taken into custody without further incident, according to the report.

A search of a backpack on the motorcycle turned up a plastic bag with a white crystal substance, a plastic bag with a suboxone pill and strip as well as syringes, the report said.

Dispatch advised that Hicks had a warrant in Johnson County for fleeing and evading, the report said.

Crace Wrecker Service was dispatched to retrieve the motorcycle, and Hicks was transported and lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.