A Princeton man is facing numerous charges following an attempted traffic stop that escalated into a nearly hour-long pursuit in Caldwell County involving multiple law enforcement agencies Monday night.
Princeton Assistant Police Chief Shane Allison reports officers attempted to stop a vehicle that was speeding near the 500 block of Dawson Road shortly before 8:15 p.m.. However, he says the driver, later identified as 30-year old Joseph Pierce, did not stop and fled driving on the wrong side of the road on several roads and streets.
According to Allision, the pursuit continued for nearly an hour before Pierce turned onto private property due to the bridge being under construction on KY 126, south of the Cobb Community in Caldwell County, where he was taken into custody.
Officers reportedly determined he was under the influence of intoxicants. Police said he was also found in possession of marijuana and prescription pills not in a labeled container.
Princeton Police charged Pierce with speeding, reckless driving fleeing or evading police, DUI, criminal mischief, possession of marijuana, two counts of prescription not in proper container, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, three counts of wanton endangerment and several traffic-related offenses. He was lodged in the Caldwell County Jail.
As a result of the pursuit that also went into Trigg County, according to Sheriff Aaron Acree, Pierce was charged with no registration receipt, no registration plates, and failure of owner to maintain required insurance, second offense.
The Princeton Police Department also thanked the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Trigg County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police and Pennyrile Emergency Assistance Center telecommunicators for their assistance in apprehending Pierce.
