OFFICER LUCKILY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY AFTER COLLISION WITH STOLEN VEHICLE SUSPECTS
JANUARY 27, 2022 – written by WADE QUEEN
CRASH SCENE ON ROUTE 645 IN MARTIN COUNTY FROM THE END OF THE STOLEN VEHICLE PURSUIT THAT BEGAN IN JOHNSON COUNTY/ (PHOTO at top TAKEN BY JOHNSON COUNTY DPUG SALYOR; PHOTO ON bottom TAKEN BY INEZ FIRE RESCUE).
DANGEROUS DUO: JOHN L. STRONG, 32; & RIKKI L. SPRADLIN, 36, BOTH FROM PAINTSVILLE, KY., WERE ARRESTED AFTER THEY LED POLICE IN A STOLEN VEHICLE ON A CHASE IN THREE COUNTIES WEDNESDAY EVENING, THAT ENDED IN A SEVERE HEAD ON CRASH WITH A POLICE VEHICLE IN MARTIN COUNTY
Two Johnson County residents are in deep legal trouble, and are in custody, facing numerous criminal charges, after they were arrested following a vehicle pursuit through 3 counties Wednesday evening.
According to the Johnson County Sheriff, Doug Salyor, the pursuit started just after 6:30 P.M., Wednesday, January 26, on KY. 1559 in Johnson County, when Johnson County deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a possible stolen vehicle.
“We had entered it as stolen from basically the same area of the county a couple weeks prior,” said Sheriff Saylor.
Instead of pulling over, deputies say the driver, John L. Strong, 32, of Paintsville, KY., hit the gas pedal. John Strong continued on Route 1559, then turning onto Hilltop Road and then onto US 23 through Johnson and Lawrence Counties, before turning onto Route 645 towards Inez.
Sheriff Saylor said the pursuit hit speeds of more than 85 miles per hour.
John Strong drove eastbound on Route 645 into Inez, where Martin County Constable District 2 Tony Preece joined the pursuit.
Sheriff Saylor says John Strong made a U-turn to go back westbound on Route 645 when he hit Constable Preece’s vehicle head on.
The collision happened on KY. 645, near the Martin County fairgrounds location.
“The vehicle that belonged to Constable Preece has sustained substantial damage,” according to Sheriff Saylor.
After the collision, John Strong continued driving on flat tires until deputies boxed in the car and forcibly arrested the combative Mr. Strong.
“He was not cooperative so we had to physically detain him and it was a little bit of a struggle to get the cuffs on,” said Sheriff Saylor.
According to Sheriff Salyor, John Strong, and the female passenger in the vehicle, Rikki L. Spradlin, 36, of Paintsville, KY., were arrested and taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
The wild car chase left Sheriff Salyor to say that the whole incident left him bewildered by the actions that were committed by the two suspects.
“I struggle to understand, even though he (Strong) had a warrant, even those that these charges were possible, I struggle understanding him putting so many peoples lives in danger just to avoid being arrested,” said Sheriff Saylor.
Sheriff Saylor revealed further that the situation could have made for a turn for the worse, as a loaded gun and ammunition was found in the car.
“It’s disturbing. We already realize they have made poor choices. We find a loaded firearm in the vehicle, what’s to say they don’t continue making poor choices and injure one of the deputies or one of the police officers, or one of the citizens that are nearby?” Sheriff Saylor said in a very stern manner.
John Strong was charged with the following 10 offenses:
- SPEEDING 26 MPH OR > SPEED LIMIT,
- RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY $1,000 < $10,000,
- FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 1ST DEGREE (MOTOR VEHICLE),
- WANTON ENDANGERMENT-1ST DEGREE-POLICE OFFICER,
- OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER/INFLUENCE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (189A.010(1D) – 2ND(AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES),
- POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS,
- OPERATING ON SUSPENDED OR REVOKED OPERATORS LICENSE,
- RESISTING ARREST,
- FAILURE TO APPEAR, John Strong was also placed the charge of:
- CONTEMPT OF COURT LIBEL/SLANDER RESISTANCE TO ORDER.
Rikki Spradlin was charged with four offenses:
- PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL),
- RESISTING ARREST, )
- POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON,
- POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 2ND OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE).
