Local Man Rams Cop Car, Prompts Chase

A West Union man is facing a list of charges, after leading authorities on a wild chase in Mount Vernon.

The incident began at about 2am Sunday (July 2), when a Mount Vernon police officer pulled over a car that did not match it's registration information.

While the officer was speaking with the driver, later identified as 20 year old Tyler Kelly of West Union, Kelly put the vehicle into reverse and rammed the police cruiser behind him, three times, then took off.

The chase went east on Highway 30, then west in the eastbound lanes, before he did a U-turn and drove through Lisbon. The pursuit continued onto gravel roads into Mechanicsville, where officers lost him.

The Fayette County Sheriff was contacted, and it was learned the vehicle had been reported stolen from West Union on Thursday (June 29). It was also revealed that Kelly was wanted for escape, from the West Union Residential Facility.

The stolen vehicle was later located in the town of Clarence; Kelly was found just before noon at a residence in Clarence.

Kelly is charged in Linn County, with Assault on a Police Officer with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury, Eluding, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, Driving While Barred, and Speeding 100 mph in a 55 mph zone.