Washington County Deputy Sheriff Brent Miller assisted with a police chase that led to the arrest of an adult male who stole a purse earlier in the afternoon from a shopper at the Salem JayC store.

Kyle Deely, 31, Louisville, KY, will likely be charged with one count of theft.

A passenger with Deely, 32-year-old Christa King, of Palm Drive, Salem, could possibly be charged with aiding.

Deely was arrested and returned to Washington Count where he was treated for minor injuries he received when his vehicle crashed on SR 111. at St. Vincent Hospital.

According to Salem City Police Detective Ronnie Mays, Deely went into the JayC Store this afternoon about 5p and while Jennifer Bowers, of Salem, was bending over to pick something up from the bottom shelf, he stole the purse out of her cart.

“She tried to catch him and he ran out of the store and got into his 2002 GMC Yukon,” said Mays. “The vehicle was sitting outside the JayC Store ready to go.”

“He probably thought he could get a little farther away. Most of the time we don’t catch these people,” Mays said. “When they run and they’re from another state, it’s hard to find them.”

About 5:15p, the 911 Dispatch announced that a Silver SUV with a Kentucky license plate was being driven by an adult male who had stolen the purse.

Deputy Brad Naugle found a purse that had been thrown out along Jackson Street.

Mays said the purse was thrown out in front of the Sheriff’s Department.  Bowers’ wallet had been removed from the purse. “That’s how we knew which direction he was going.” 

“He asked over the police radio what color the purse was,” said Miller. “It was pink. The guy had taken the cash or credit cards out of it and tossed the purse. I figured he was leaving Salem on his way back to Kentucky so I drove to Newlon’s store to wait.”

Miller said he hadn’t been there but about a minute when the vehicle drove by.

Miller said, “I called district to repeat the plate number. I advised I’m following it East until we can get some marked units to help with a traffic stop. I figured I would follow him to keep him in sight.”

Miller said he got to Deam’s Lake and he started seeing police units from other agencies.

The driver saw them too and began to speed up,” said Miller.

The police units tried to box him in at the intersection of State Road 60 and State Road 111. The driver drove through a yard and down SR 111 at high speed.

“At that time it became a high speed pursuit,” said Miller. “I knew he would never make that turn on 111 by the railroad tracks. He didn’t. He lost control.  He had two flat tires…totally disabled. He ended up going off the road and wrecked on the railroad tracks and then fled on foot.”

Mays said King said in an interview this evening that she had tried to get Deely to stop.

Miller said he and Indiana Conservation Officer Bo Spainhour pursued Delly and apprehended him.

Miller said multiple police agencies were involved in the pursuit — Sellersburg Police Department, Clarksville Police Department, DNR officials, Clark and Floyd County Sheriff’s Departments.

Mays said officers were going to be inspecting the vehicle tonight to see if there would be additional items relevant to the case.

He said he anticipated charges being filed from Clark County against Deely for fleeing in a vehicle.