City of Lawrenceburg

A Columbia man was arrested late Wednesday when police officers found he was trying to enter the home of an individual he did not know.

Gary Wayne Royse, 51, of 1814 Bailey Street, Columbia, was arrested at 10:20 p.m. by deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies had been dispatched to a home at 134 Spring Creek Road where the resident said someone was beating on the doors and windows, trying to get inside.

When they arrived, deputies report Royse was standing on the walkway. He told deputies he “thought his cousin lived here.” He said friends had dropped him off at the address, then left.

Royse was booked through the Lawrence County Detention Center on one count of public intoxication. He will answer the charge in Lawrence County General Sessions Court on June 19, 2012.

A local resident discovered Wednesday that numerous items had been stolen from his property during the past few months, while he had been away.

The victim reported to deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department that he noticed items missing from his property beginning around the first of March. He said the items were taken during times when he was staying out of town.

On Monday, the victim said he realized a yellow, 1959 McCulloch go kart had been stolen. He said that he was able to locate it at Burleson’s Scrap Metal in Summertown. Employees were able to identify the individual who had sold the go kart to them. It was then returned to the owner.

Other items reported taken from the property include chain saws, aluminum wheels, car parts, engines, washers, dryers, refrigerators, farm equipment, a go cart frame and a riding lawnmower.

Investigation into the crime is on-going at the present time.

A man who authorities say led police officers on an extended chase along the Tennessee/Alabama border Saturday was later arrested on numerous charges, including endangering the lives of several motorists.

Saint Joseph Police Chief Adam Brewer reported Wednesday that pursuit of the subject began after radar revealed he was traveling at a rate of 82 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone.

He said that officers attempted to stop the driver in the parking lot of Stateline Station, but that the driver pulled from the parking lot and sped away.

Officers pursued the driver, later identified as James Thomas Murphy, 42, of Killen, south into Alabama, “at an extremely high rate of speed.” He pointed out that Murphy, “Was driving very recklessly with total disregard for the safety of the other drivers on the roadway.”

Brewer reported that during his flight, Murphy forced numerous motorists off the roadway. When he attempted to negotiate a turn onto Alabama County Road 47, Murphy missed the turn, ran through a ditch, jumped an embankment, then landed back on the roadway, all the while traveling at a high rate of speed.

Reports indicate that Murphy continued to flee along several back roads before heading back toward Tennessee. Brewer stated that at one point Murphy attempted to ram a patrol car. He then lost control of the vehicle in a curve and crashed into a field. Murphy continued his efforts to flee until he crashed into a tree.

Reports show that after crashing, Murphy exited the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area. Officers from both Lawrence County, Tennessee and Lauderdale County, Alabama conducted a search of the area, but were unable to locate Murphy at that time. Members of the Alabama Highway Patrol were tasked with investigating the crash.

Warrants were obtained against Murphy charging him with numerous crimes, including speeding, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, evading arrest, failure to yield to blue lights and siren, and aggravated assault of a police officer.

Members of the Saint Joseph Police Department and Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department arrested Murphy at a residence on Main Street in Saint Joseph a few hours later.

They report he was transported to Crockett Hospital for medical attention for injuries he sustained in the crash. He was then taken to the Lawrence County Detention Center for incarceration