Manchester man arrested after leading police on two-county chase

A Manchester man was arrested Friday after leading police on a wild, high-speed chase through Laurel and Whitley counties after allegedly steeling lawn care equipment from a London store.

According to police, Earl Scott Stevens, 36, faces felony theft and fleeing charges in the wake of the incident.
The chase started in London on KY 192 (bypass) when Stevens refused to stop for London City Police Sgt. K.R. Jones. Authorities were attempting to detain Stevens because he was suspected to have stolen a chainsaw and a Weed Eater from Tractor Supply Store in London.

Stevens turned down KY 363 in a Ford Crown Victoria, then hit US 25 and raced south toward Corbin. London City Police lost the suspect, but then Laurel County Sheriff deputies Joey Vicini and William Harris spotted him again near Hunter Hills Elementary School and the chase was on again.

The car, with authorities hot on its trail, turned onto U.S. 25E, then got onto I-75 heading south. The man slowed down at around the 22-mile marker and finally stopped a short distance later. Stevens was immediately taken into custody without incident.

Stevens was charged by police with felony theft, fleeing and evading police, DUI and wanton endangerment.
The Kentucky Commercial Vehicle Enforcement , Kentucky State Police, Williamsburg City Police and Corbin Police assisted London City Police and the Laurel County Sheriff’s department with the case.