JOHNSON COUNTY — A 20-year-old Indianapolis man was arrested Saturday after falsely claiming his car was stolen after a deputy clocked him doing 156 mph on Interstate 65.
It happened shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 65 at the 90 mile marker. According to a report from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was watching northbound traffic when he saw a red Dodge Charger in the left lane at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. The deputy clocked the vehicle traveling 156 mph and watched as the Charger passed a line of vehicles on the left shoulder, creating a large amount of dust.
The deputy activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued the vehicle. As the vehicle approached Whiteland Road at the 95 mile marker, the Charger quickly exited the highway and headed east on Whiteland Road. The deputy was unable to safely follow the vehicle onto the exit.
A Whiteland police officer located the vehicle in front of the Speedco located just south of the Flying J Travel Center. The officer told the deputy the vehicle was still running. As thedeputy arrived at the car, a man called 911 claiming his car, a red Dodge Charger had been stolen. A truck driver in the area flagged down the deputy and told him the man driving the Charger had nearly hit his truck and had fled toward the Flying J.
Another Whiteland police officer located a man matching the truck driver's description of man who fled from the Charger in front of the Denny's at the Flying J. The man at the truck stop was still on the phone with 911 when the deputy and Whiteland officers approached him.
The man, identified as a 20-year-old from Indianapolis, claimed a man in a blue Mustang had been chasing him. According to the sheriff's office, the man later admitted he wasn't being chased and was actually listening to a police scanner on his cell phone and that he called 911 to create a diversion so officers would not suspect him of being the driver of the car.
According to the sheriff's office, the man was arrested on suspicion of resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, driving while suspended, false reporting and reckless driving.
