OOLITIC – A Mitchell man was arrested Monday afternoon after Lawrence County Central Dispatch reported an erratic driver in a burgundy Jeep Cherokee traveling north on State Road 37 near Trogdon Lane.
Oolitic Town Marshal James Harrington was driving back from dropping off evidence at the Indiana State Police Laboratory in Indianapolis.
Harrington was stopped at the light at State Road 37 and Old State Road 37 and observed the driver of a Jeep Cherokee weaving in and out of traffic and changing lanes several times, unable to maintain his lane of travel.
Harrington initiated a traffic stop at State Road 37 and Old State Road 37. The driver of the Jeep accelerated at a high rate of speed.
The driver later identified as 48-year-old Craig Houte, wove in and out of traffic, changed his lanes of travel at least four times, and the rear end of the Jeep appeared to almost strike the driver’s side of the front bumper of a semi-tractor that was pulling a trailer, as he attempted to elude police.
Houte pulled over onto the shoulder of the roadway an estimated one and a half to two miles north of the intersection of State Road 37 and Old State Road 37.
Houte was asked to step out of the Jeep. Houte initially hesitated to exit the vehicle, but he complied with instructions shortly after. Houte was eventually detained for driving on a suspended driver’s license, reckless driving and resisting arrest. His vehicle was towed by Mikels Towing and Recovery.
While being transported to jail, Houte told Harrington that he stopped once he saw the emergency lights, but he initially didn’t think the officer was attempting to stop him and didn’t hear the siren because he was listing to loud music.
Police say Houte had no music on as they approached his vehicle, though Houte told the officer he had turned his radio off when he pulled over.
