BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — A Martin County man and a Johnson County man were arrested Sunday after a Kentucky State Police pursuit ended with troopers disabling a pickup truck and finding suspected stolen AT&T communication line inside.
Police identified the driver as Christopher Jordan Mollette, 38, of Martin County, and the passenger as William Cantrell, 41, of Johnson County.
The pursuit began around 10:49 a.m. Aug. 2 when a KSP Post 9 sergeant attempted to stop a 1993 Chevrolet Silverado on U.S. 23 in Paintsville. Police said the truck had no visible registration plate and excessive window tint.
Mollette allegedly failed to stop, leading troopers on a pursuit that continued onto Ky. 825. Troopers ended the pursuit by using a Precision Immobilization Technique, commonly called a PIT maneuver, to disable the truck.
Mollette and Cantrell were taken into custody without further incident.
Troopers searching the truck found suspected stolen AT&T communication line and tools believed to have been used to cut and remove it. KSP valued the line at more than $1,000.
Mollette was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on charges of first-degree fleeing or evading police, reckless driving, first-degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest, second-offense operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools.
He also faces charges of operating on a suspended or revoked license, having no registration plates, improperly displaying registration plates, excessive window tint, failure to wear a seat belt, failure to signal, disregarding a stop sign, failure to maintain insurance, failure to produce an insurance card, improper equipment and having no registration receipt. His booking record also lists unrelated failure-to-appear and contempt-of-court charges.
Cantrell was lodged in the same detention center on charges of receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools and criminal littering.
All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.