Published: August 07, 2008 10:46 pm            

High-speed chase headed to grand jury

The case of a habitually criminal Estill County man who damaged Richmond police cruisers in a high-speed chase last month is headed to the grand jury.

James Cahal, 43, of Ravenna, fled from an Estill County sheriff’s deputy July 27 after the officer suspected Cahal of driving while intoxicated, Kentucky State Police Trooper Chris Lanham said.

Cahal then accelerated in speed and Estill County officers initiated a vehicle pursuit and asked for assistance from other agencies.

As Cahal crossed into Madison County and onto the Robert R. Martin Bypass, local units were called in to assist, including officers from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond Police Department and KSP.

“The subject was first noticed in the Moberly area traveling at 92 miles per hour,” court documents stated. “Cahal was operating dangerously, passing vehicles in the emergency lane and reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.”

Cahal refused to stop, traveling from the bypass onto US 25 north.

“Cahal struck a Richmond Police Department cruiser at the intersection of 25 and Jacks Creek Road,” Lanham said.

This was the second of two police cruisers from Richmond’s police fleet that Cahal damaged during his run, Lanham said.

As Cahal attempted to travel west on Jacks Creek, KSP Trooper Philip Powell pulled a strategic maneuver that finally stopped Cahal’s vehicle.

“Powell performed a pit maneuver,” Lanham said, describing a technique of fishtailing a suspect’s vehicle in a last-ditch effort to stop their getaway. “It’s a pretty standard maneuver. Sometimes you have time to lay down spike strips or other devices, but not in this case.”

The pit maneuver did stop Cahal’s vehicle, but not the man himself.

Cahal refused to leave his vehicle after crashing and had to be removed by force.

“He was resistant,” Lanham said. “Trooper Powell used pepper spray to subdue him at the scene.”

During the struggle with officers, Cahal also damaged two Richmond police department uniforms and a Kentucky state police trooper uniform.

Although two city police cruisers received slight damage during the chase, Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock said the scenario could have had a far worse outcome.

“While it’s unfortunate that we had two of our vehicles damaged, the important thing is that no one was injured,” Brock said.

Cahal is charged with six counts of wanton endangerment and a charge of fleeing and evading in the first degree. Both charges are Class D felonies which carry a maximum prison sentence of five years each. Cahal also was cited with numerous traffic charges and driving under the influence.

In recent years, Cahal has pled guilty to charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault, criminal mischief, robbery, burglary and arson. These crimes, dating back to 2006, occurred in Estill County.

Cahal is lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.

Cahal is being held in Madison County on a $20,000 cash bond and also has a $15,000 cash bond set in Estill County.

Cahal’s case will next be heard by a Madison grand jury for formal indictment.

Heather Harris can be reached at hharris@richmondregister.com or by phone at 624-6694 or 893-2341.

        

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