Rockholds man leads police on wild chase

Williamsburg police have charged a Rockholds man with escaping out the back of a police car while handcuffed and then leading authorities on a high speed vehicle chase Monday morning that finally ended in a foot pursuit.

Sgt. Brad Boyd charged Loyall Mathew “Matt” Campbell, 25, of 425 Colonel Hollow Road, with first-degree and second-degree fleeing or evading police, second-degree escape, first-degree wanton endangerment, resisting arrest and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Detective Bobby Freeman also charged Campbell with attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, false statement or forgery.

The incident happened about 11 a.m. and began at Kim’s Pharmacy after pharmacist Kim Jones called police about someone trying to pick up a fraudulent prescription.
Boyd said that when he arrived, he spoke with Campbell, arrested him and placed him in the backseat of his cruiser with his hands cuffed in front of him.

Williamsburg Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said Boyd had inadvertently hit a button on his door allowing the rear window of the cruiser to be rolled down from the back seat, which is what Campbell did.

“It’s not anything anybody did wrong. It is just one of those uncommon things that happens,” Jackson said about the button being pressed to allow the rear window to be rolled down from the back of the cruiser.

Once the window was down, authorities said Campbell was able to reach the outside door handle and opened the cruiser door.

“Officer Boyd then witnessed the subject getting into his car, and gave him the command to stop several times,” Jackson said.
After Campbell got into his own car, a 2000 Buick, Boyd initiated a vehicle pursuit.

Campbell turned north onto US25W going at speeds in excess of 70 mph, police said. Boyd said Campbell passed two cars on Town Hill.

When he got to 3-Point, Campbell turned onto Ky. 26 and went north until he turned onto Colonel Hollow Road.

Boyd said the vehicle chase lasted another five miles up Colonel Hollow Road before Campbell finally stopped the vehicle.

Boyd said a foot pursuit then ensued through briars and a strip pit area that ended after about 100 yards.
“Once Sgt. Boyd reached the subject, the subject still would not obey any commands and would not cooperate at all,” Jackson said. “He did have to be physically restrained.

“Luckily, no one was injured. During the pursuit, the defendant was driving with no regard to public safety at all endangering a lot of lives.”

Jackson said that Campbell only started out with one or possibly two charges at the most, and is now facing multiple felony offenses because he attempted to flee.

“A lot of people when they aren’t thinking correctly want to do these silly things like run from the police and stuff,” Jackson said.

“They are just making things harder on themselves because they are going to get caught in Whitley County, and have several more charges.”

According to his arrest citation, Campbell told police that he is on a lot of pain medications.
Officers assisting with the investigation included: Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird, Lt. Jason Caddell, Freeman, and Sheriff’s Capt. Todd Shelley, Lt. David Lennon, Deputies Alan Onkst and Brett Reeves, Whitley County Emergency Management Director Danny Moses and Kentucky Division of Emergency Management Area 11 Manager Jerry Rains.

“One thing that we want to stress is the great working relationship between all the agencies. We want to really thank them for being there when they were needed,” Jackson added.