London Police arrest man following high-speed pursuit

LONDON KY—On Friday, Oct. 21^st London Police received a complaint at 9:55 a.m. through Dispatch of a Universal Linen Service employee making threats to shoot another employee as his employment was being terminated. When London Police arrived on the scene Christopher L. Gaines, 29, of London led officers on a high-speed pursuit beginning on West 4^th street and ending on Rebecca Lane, injuring Ofc. Greg Turner, damaging a police cruiser, and Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy’s personal vehicle.

At the time of Ofc. Eric Stallard’s arrival in the parking lot of Universal Linen Service, Gaines began to flee the scene in his vehicle, nearly striking Ofc. Stallard. Gaines then led police on a high-speed pursuit through Mill Street, Whitley Street, and KY-192. He entered the Wal-Mart parking lot intentionally striking Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Scott’s personal vehicle to avoid capture. He then drove away from the accident to continue fleeing behind Wal-Mart. As Gaines attempted to leave the parking lot he intentionally struck Ofc. Stallard’s police cruiser and continued to flee.

Gaines traveled east through a nearby Shell gas station parking lot almost striking a bystander pumping gas, headed east on KY-192 in excess of 100mph, crossed over the Hal Rogers Parkway failing to make a turn onto Rebecca Lane, and crashed into a barrier. He then fled his disabled vehicle on foot, jumping a nearby fence. Det. Sgt. Joe Smith, Ofc. Greg Turner, and Ofc. Stallard pursued Gaines on foot and while attempting to be handcuffed he resisted arrest. During the pursuit, Ofc. Turner was injured and transported to KentuckyOne Health Saint Joseph London by a police cruiser.

Gaines was arrested and charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, failure to render aid or assistance while living the scene of an accident, first-degree criminal mischief, operating a motor vehicle on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance, second-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest. There was also a bench warrant out for Gaines arrest. He was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.