BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WALTON -- The Pleasant Ridge man who dragged a Kentucky State Police trooper 10 feet along Interstate 71 and then led police on a 25-mile chase was charged with a variety of traffic violations and criminal charges.
Prentice D. Larkin, 28, and Trooper Jason Lovins got into a scuffle on Monday just after 7 p.m., when Trooper Lovins stopped Mr. Larkin for speeding.
The trooper found that Mr. Larkin, who had his two small children in the car, had a suspended driver's license and was driving an improperly licensed vehicle. Police later determined that the car was stolen. When Trooper Lovins tried to arrest Mr. Larkin, a skirmish occurred, State Police Lt. Steve Simpson said. Mr. Larkin got back in his car and started to drive away.
"The trooper tried to turn the ignition off and got his arm caught in the steering wheel," Lt. Simpson said.
Trooper Lovins broke free, got into his cruiser and followed Mr. Larkin north on I-71 at speeds up to 100 mph. The chase lasted between 15 and 20 minutes, ending at the I-71 - 75 split near Walton. That's where officers from the Boone County Sheriff's Office and the Boone County Police used Stop Sticks to let the air out of the car's tires.
"The sticks blew the air out of the tires," Sheriff Mike Helmig said. "That's the purpose of them, to end a high-speed pursuit quickly and safely."
The sticks insert a small tube into the tires which permits the air to leave the tire at a controlled rate. The sticks punctured the car's left front and right rear tires.
As the car slowed, it ran off the right side of the highway. Mr. Larkin was arrested, and his two children, who were unharmed, were released to their mother.
Mr. Larkin was charged with speeding, failure to show proof of insurance, operating on a suspended license, improper registration, attempting to elude an officer, resisting arrest, reckless driving, failure to use child restraints, wanton endangerment and receiving stolen property. He is being held in the Carroll County Detention Center in Carrollton.
