Intoxicated Motorist Leads Deputies on Early Morning Chase

Shortly before 2:00 AM on Thursday, August 11, 2016, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of Allens Lane and Grove Street investigating a narcotics complaint. While in the area the deputies noticed a light colored Ford Taurus parked strangely in the middle of the roadway. After spotting the presence of the deputies, the driver fled at a high rate of speed with two other occupants inside the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle was traveling so fast that it was seen ramping the railroad crossing on Allens lane just east of Grove Street. Deputies gave chase and pursued for nearly five miles before the suspect finally pulled over in front of the Academy for Innovative Studies (AIS) at 2319 Stringtown Rd.

During the course of the pursuit, stop sticks were effectively deployed on two seperate occasions, once by the Evansville Police Department and a second time by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. This contributed to the driver pulling over due to several of the vehicle’s tires being deflated.

The driver and two passengers were taken into custody without incident and were transported to the Sheriff’s Command Post for questioning. The subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver, Kelton Casteel (20 years old), for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, reckless driving, operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, minor consumption, and an unrelated warrant. The passengers, whom were both 20 years of age, were each issued a summons to appear in court for minor consumption of alcohol and were released from custody.

DRIVER: Kelton Casteel, 20, of Evansville

  Pictured above: Kelton Casteel