An Ashland, Kentucky man took a Portsmouth Police Officer for a wild wrong-way ride on Sunday. It all started just after 3 am when Officer Michael Taylor spotted a Chrylser with a Kentucky license plate stop left of center at Thomas Avenue and 17th Street.
Officer Taylor ran the license plate while the vehicle proceeded down 17th and turned onto Mabert. When the vehicle went into the parking lot of Mabert Road Baptist Church, Taylor activated his lights.
Wrong-Way Chase
The driver put the vehicle in reverse and backed up. Taylor said he almost struck his cruiser. The driver then went through the parking lot and headed south on Mabert Road.
When he hit the intersection of Mabert and Gallia, he headed east in the westbound lane right at oncoming traffic. He then merged east and turned onto Norfolk and into the alley behind U-haul. However, he hit an embankment and bottomed out behind Portsmouth Ambulance.
Taylor drew his service weapon and ordered the driver to get out of the car. Two other officers arrived on the scene to assist.
The driver, Keene Montgomery, was taken into custody along with a female passenger.
A Weapon, Scales, & Suspected Meth
Police discovered a black digital scale inside a sock in Montgomery’s pocket. Officers found a clear back containing a crystal-like substance on the ground near the driver’s windows. Taylor said it appeared to be meth. Police also found an unloaded handgun a few feet from the vehicle and a magazine with three live rounds of ammunition near the passenger side.
Police impounded the vehicle and had it towed. Montgomery was issued a citation for driving under suspension and charged with fleeing from police, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance, and weapons charges. Officers transported him to the Scioto County Jail.
Montgomery, who had a prior felony conviction from Indiana, was apparently a little concerned about the arrest. He asked an officer if he thought he would get jail time for the offense.
The office informed Montgomery he could probably expect to do time. But Montgomery thought he might get off since he didn’t have anything in his possession.