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Two apprehended after police chase

Cruiser struck in high-speed pursuit

Loudin

BUCKHANNON — Two Upshur County men were arrested after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase Monday and striking a deputy cruiser.

Kaleb Allen Loudin, 23, of Adrian, is charged with one felony count of fleeing from an officer in a vehicle with reckless disregard and one felony count of conspiracy. He is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $75,000 cash-only bond on one charge and $10,000 cash or surety bond on the second charge.

Rodney Allen Rowan, 22, of Buckhannon, is charged with one felony count of conspiracy. He is incarcerated at TVRJ on a $150,000 cash or surety bond.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Upshur County Magistrate Court, Deputy T.A. Gordon, of the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, observed a gray Ford F-150 traveling east on Rt. 151 in Upshur County when it traveled left of center Monday on the double yellow lines.

Gordon identified the passenger to be Rowan, who he knew was a wanted person. Gordon also received information from Walton’s bonding that Rowan previously had been seen in the vehicle, was “supposedly armed,” and was “not going back to jail,” the report indicates.

Rowan

Gordon attempted to initiate a traffic stop as the vehicle turned south onto King School House Road, failing to yield to the officer.

The driver reached speeds up to 70 mph on King School House Road and failed to stop at several stop signs while passing vehicles on a one-lane road, the complaint states.

Speeds reached 100 mph after the driver returned to Rt. 151 and U.S. 33. While on U.S. 33, the driver passed vehicles on the right berm of the roadway, traveled across the median into the opposite lane of traffic and re-entered Rt. 151, according to the report.

Deputy Chidester, also of the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, identified the driver to be Loudin, according to the complaint.

Gordon continued pursuing Loudin; however, the officer lost sight of the vehicle on Lee Glass Road.

Upshur County 911 Communication received a call regarding the F-150 being on Trexel McCartney Road. The vehicle re-emerged on Phillips Ridge Road where the driver collided with Chidester’s patrol vehicle, leaving it disable, according to the report.

Upshur County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Dewaine Linger was able to stop the vehicle on Larry Loudin Road using stop sticks. Both Rowan and Loudin fled from the vehicle on foot and attempted to hide from officers in a briar patch.

Gordon notes in the report that Loudin and Rowan agreed prior to the traffic stop they were not going to stop for law enforcement due to Rowan “being wanted.”

Loudin also told police Rowan instructed him not to stop the vehicle because he did not want to go to prison. Rowan added the two agreed not to pull over for law enforcement, the complaint states.

If convicted on the fleeing charge, Loudin could be sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in the state penitentiary and fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000.

If convicted on the conspiracy charges, both Loudin and Rowan could each be sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in the state penitentiary, fined not more than $10,000, or both.

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