Woman facing multiple charges after leading officers on high-speed chase on I-24

By Amber Ruch

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) – A woman is in custody after leading officers on a high-speed chase on Interstate 24 through western Kentucky.

Kaylin Herzog, 24, of Ledbetter, Ky., was charged with having one headlight, first-degree fleeing and evading police (motor vehicle), speeding 26 miles per hour or greater, reckless driving, two counts of first-degree fleeing and evading police (on foot), second-degree escape, resisting arrest, first-degree possession of meth – 2nd offense, drug paraphernalia, open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, driving on DUI suspended license, no registration plates, no registration receipt and failure to produce insurance card.

According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, at around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, a deputy tried to stop a vehicle on John Puryear Drive near Exit 11. They say the vehicle started to elude the deputy by getting onto I-24 eastbound at a high rate of speed.

Once inside Marshall County, the vehicle left the south side of the road and came to a sudden stop.

Deputies say two people in the vehicle got out and ran.

The driver, identified as Herzog, was taken into custody after a short chase through a wooded area. Once she was placed in custody, deputies say she slipped out of the handcuffs, pulled away from the deputy and ran a second time. She was again taken into custody after another short chase.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies say they found drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of methamphetamine.

According to the sheriff’s department, deputies continued to search throughout the night for the male passenger of the vehicle, but did not find him.

The McCracken County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Paducah Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Kentucky State Police and Stinnett’s Wrecker Service.

Copyright 2020 KFVS. All rights reserved.

Convicted bank robber arrested after I-15 police chase

Kevin Jenkins, kevin@thespectrum.com

A homeless Louisiana man on probation for a Colorado bank robbery made his initial appearance in St. George’s 5th District Court on Thursday on charges he led law enforcement officers on a dangerous high-speed chase along Interstate 15 the previous night.

Jock Waylon Thacker, 25, who listed an address on Highway 121 in Hineston, Louisiana, with the court, was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility on a felony count of failing to stop at a police officer’s command and misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, open container of alcohol in vehicle, license plate on incorrect vehicle, no proof insurance, speeding and driving without vehicle registration.

Thacker told Judge Jeffrey Wilcox he doesn’t have a job, has about $30 to his name and was making “one last run” after leaving his home in Louisiana and living in his car.

According to Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce, a UHP trooper attempted to stop Thacker’s car near highway mile marker 1 north of the state line for an alleged traffic violation shortly before 9:30 p.m.

Thacker allegedly “took off” and the trooper ended his pursuit of the vehicle as he entered a construction zone.

Near mile marker 8, a second UHP trooper attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle and Thacker again allegedly fled, leading the trooper to end his pursuit in a construction zone as well.

“They didn’t think it was safe,” Royce said. “When (the vehicle) left the construction zone, … the Washington County Sheriff’s Office initiated their pursuit.”

According to arrest information the Sheriff’s Office filed with the court, its deputy attempted to stop Thacker near milepost 15 but the vehicle again did not stop.

Thacker allegedly drove more than 100 mph in an attempt to evade the officer until he reached the Toquerville exit at mile 27, where he reportedly left the freeway, drove down a dead-end surface street, returned to the freeway and drove south.

Officers ultimately deployed two spike strips to puncture Thacker’s tires and Thacker continued to drive at 84 mph with three tires deflated, according to the report. His vehicle and a pursuing officer’s vehicle collided with each other, and he finally came to a stop and was arrested at mile marker 8.

The deputy reported that he found eight baggies of marijuana and an open container of whiskey in the car, which Thacker allegedly admitted using. Thacker said he had bought the vehicle two weeks earlier and had transferred his old plates to it without registering it.

“I absolutely can’t hire my attorney,” Thacker told Wilcox on Thursday. “I owned my little car, but after last night it’s totaled. It’s worth nothing.”

Wilcox appointed defense attorney Jay Winward to represent him and scheduled a follow-up court appearance Monday.

Thacker was arrested in April 2012 on charges he robbed a Meeker, Colorado, bank after handing a teller a note that said, “Don’t be crazy give me all the cash out of your register,” according to Colorado media reports at the time.

Rio Blanco County’s Herald Times reported Thacker fled with more than $1,200 wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots with spurs on them.

Thacker apparently changed clothing but was later spotted by a trucking company employee who had heard about the robbery. Thacker was arrested “wet from head to toe” by sheriff’s officers after he forded the nearby White River, according to the newspaper.

A Rio Blanco County district court sentencing order filed last year noted Thacker served 60 days in jail on the felony robbery conviction and was granted probation, with permission to obtain an interstate compact to allow him to return to Louisiana.

The sentence stated Thacker was barred from obtaining medical marijuana and would be subject to random drug testing.

Utah probation officials said Thursday that Thacker apparently absconded from his probation supervision in Louisiana and that state ended its management agreement Wednesday, but Thacker is still subject to the probation terms in Colorado.

Thacker told Wilcox that he left Louisiana about 30 days ago. He is being held on $10,000 bail.

Follow reporter Kevin Jenkins on Twitter, @SpectrumJenkins. Call him at 435-674-6253.