Domestic Suspect Flees Parking Lot After Being Held at Gunpoint, Arrested After High Speed Chase

Jerry Matt Napier, (36), Segal.

Darren Doyle, story:
A man from the Segal community is in custody after ramming a police car and leading law enforcement on a high speed chase in the Brownsville area today, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

Law enforcement stated that they were called to a residence on Beaver Dam Church Road around 8AM on Wednesday, February 5th to a report of a male who was demanding a family member's bank cards and threatening family with a gun. According to the Sheriff's Office, the suspect, identified as Jerry Matt Napier, (36) had fled the scene when law enforcement arrived but officers immediately headed to his known address on E. Hack Road in Segal.

According to the Sheriff's Office, a vehicle matching the suspect's car was located at the Dollar General Store in Brownsville. It was discovered that the vehicle was Napier's, who was inside. A deputy reportedly attempted to open his door at gunpoint with another deputy boxing him in from behind in a police cruiser.

Napier then rammed into the cruiser in reverse and moved it enough where he could drive over the curb and into a neighbor's yard, eluding police, the Sheriff's Office said. The suspect then traveled onto Morgantown Road where a high speed pursuit began, law enforcement said, and a deputy was able to pass Napier and began trying to slow him down. The deputy stated Napier rammed his cruiser more than once and that he was finally able to allow Napier around him as the deputy executed a pit maneuver, forcing Napier off road.

In the midst of the pit maneuver, the deputy stated that his cruiser's front wheel broke off, rendering it disabled, but Napier was able to drive down the ditch and back onto the highway. The pursuit continued down KY HWY 187 with multiple units and then left onto Sunny Point Road, all the way to the end, according to the Sheriff's Office, but instead of turning onto KY 185, Napier went straight and jumped over the road, crashing into a natural gas well. Napier then reportedly ran on foot across Big Reedy Creek and into a large field where a farmer loaned law enforcement a UTV and they drove out and took Napier into custody without further incident.

Napier, who was uninjured in the incident, was arrested and charged with:

• Wanton Endangerment-1st Degree
• Wanton Endangerment-2nd Degree-Police Officer
• Robbery, 1st Degree
• Criminal Mischief, 1st Degree
• Fleeing Or Evading Police, 3rd Degree
• Reckless Driving
• Possession Of Firearm By Convicted Felon
• Fleeing Or Evading Police, 1st Degree

The Sheriff's Office said that Napier had recently been released from prison on various drug and fleeing charges. He was transported to the Hart County Jail with currently no bond.

Also assisting was the Edmonson County Jailer, Kentucky State Police, and the Grayson County Sheriff's Office.