Pursuit case to be heard by grand jury

Brian Smith
Register News Writer

January 22, 2009 09:23 am

— An Owsley County man who fled from a Richmond police officer following a car chase earlier this month had his case sent to a Madison County grand jury Wednesday.
Michael D. Congleton, 24, of Booneville, is charged with speeding, driving on a suspended license, driving under the influence, second offense, two counts of first-degree fleeing or evading police, reckless driving, resisting arrest and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident.
Richmond police officer Kelly Rouse testified Wednesday that he clocked Congleton’s car driving 62 mph in a 25-mph zone down Main Street around 3:45 a.m. Jan. 11.
Rouse was parked in the parking lot of the Madison Hall of Justice when he spotted Congleton’s car.
After following Congleton on a pursuit down Fifth Street, North Street and Lyndale Avenue during which Congleton hit two parked cars, Rouse chased Congleton on foot across several yards and privacy fences along Lyndale Avenue before capturing him as he attempted to climb another fence.
Rouse suffered a knee injury in the chase, and tests to determine the extent of the injury are pending.
Officers took Congleton to the Madison County Detention Center while Rouse was taken to Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center for his injury.
While at the detention center, Congleton refused to take a blood alcohol breath test, Rouse testified.
Visiting Judge Michael Harrod, sitting in for Madison District Judge Brandy O. Brown, found probable cause following Rouse’s testimony to send the case on to the grand jury.
Congleton is lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.
Berea robbery suspect
A woman charged with second-degree robbery in connection with an attempted shoplifting at the Berea Walmart waived her preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Bertie E. Abney, 24, will now have her case go before a Madison County grand jury.
Abney was charged after she allegedly shoved a Walmart employee who had detained her and a male for attempting to shoplift from the store Jan. 13.
Police caught Abney after she and the male led Berea police on a chase down Slate Lick Road. The male fled from the car into a wooded area while Abney stayed in the car.
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.