Johnson arrested after New Year’s Eve pursuit

Johnny Johnson was arrested following a short pursuit on New Year’s Eve.

A New Year’s Eve vehicle pursuit resulted in a trip to jail for a Williamsburg man.

About 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, Whitley County. E911 received a complaint from a Hamblin Road residence that a man was outside the home refusing to leave and claiming to be in possession of a firearm.

All available Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies responded, with Deputy James Tabor arriving on scene first.

Tabor made contact with 38-year-old Johnny Johnson Jr., who was in a GMC pickup truck. Johnson refused commands to exit the vehicle, drove towards Tabor and then started driving in reverse, according to a sheriff’s department release.

During the chase, Helen Smith of Dant Road was almost struck and three other people, Billy Smith, Carol Smith and Scott Isaacs were able to move out of the way, according to an arrest citation.

After a short pursuit, Tabor was able to block Johnson’s truck, but Johnson continued to disregard commands from deputies, the release stated.

“With the help of Deputy Jonas Saunders and Sgt. James Fox, Johnson was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest. Inside the vehicle, deputies located pills and needles. No firearm was located,” Sheriff Colan Harrell said in a release.

Johnson allegedly told police that he had used drugs the prior day, and admitted he would have methamphetamine and Percocet in his system, according to an arrest citation.

Tabor charged Johnson with first-degree fleeing or evading police, third-offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs, no vehicle insurance, no operator’s license, failure to register transfer of motor vehicle, first and second-degree wanton endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of illegal possession of a legend drug. Johnson also had two warrants for his arrest due to non-payment of fines in previous cases.

In addition, Johnson had a third warrant for his arrest stemming from a fourth-degree assault case in May.

He was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.