Louisville men arrested after chase through Bartholomew, Jackson counties

February 5, 2021 Cody Collins

Derek Fajardo. Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

Four Louisville men were arrested after a chase by Indiana State Police through Bartholomew and Jackson counties Tuesday with shots being fired at authorities.

A trooper noticed a car driving at more than 100 mph just south of the Columbus exit on Interstate 65 at about 1 a.m. in the morning Tuesday. After stopping the vehicle, the trooper grew suspicious and as more troopers arrived, the driver took off northbound, hitting and causing minor injuries to a trooper.

The driver got off at the Columbus exit, made a U-turn and headed back onto Interstate 65 going south, according to police reports. The occupants of the vehicle allegedly fired guns while fleeing and threw those weapons out of the car along the interstate. When the vehicle entered Jackson County, it ran over a tire deflation device placed by Jackson deputies and Seymour police. The vehicle finally stopped just south of Seymour where the four men were taken into custody.

The vehicle was found to be stolen, one of the recovered firearms had been reported stolen out of Louisville, and marijuana was found inside the vehicle.

The driver, 27-year-old Derek J. Fajardo was arrested on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting law Enforcement, battery, reckless Driving, possession of a stolen firearm, criminal recklessness with a firearm, obstruction of justice, and possession of marijuana.

The others in the car were:

Jordan Griffith, 25, was arrested on charges of Possession of Stolen Firearm, Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm, Obstruction of Justice, Possession of Firearm by Serious Violent Felon, and Possession of Marijuana. Griffith was also wanted on a warrant out of Louisville, Kentucky.
Breyon Bell, 28, was arrested on charges of Possession of Stolen Firearm, Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm, Obstruction of Justice, Possession of Firearm by Serious Violent Felon, and Possession of Marijuana.
Gualber Castro, 20, was arrested on charges of Possession of Stolen Firearm, Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm, Obstruction of Justice, and Possession of Marijuana.