DELAWARE CO. – Troopers from the Indiana State Police Pendleton District arrested a Marion man for possession of marijuana this weekend after a short pursuit along Interstate 69.
On Saturday, January 6, 2024, around 5:00 p.m., Trooper Hanna McClure patrolled Interstate 69 near the 241-mile marker when she noticed a blue Chevrolet Cruz with an equipment violation. Trooper McClure initiated a traffic stop and walked up to the driver’s door when the driver attempted to flee from law enforcement. The pursuit remained on Interstate 69 and lasted approximately 10 minutes. During the pursuit, the driver reportedly threw multiple bags from the vehicle. Trooper Corey Bell was also patrolling Interstate 69 near the 151-mile marker when the pursuit started and was able to deploy stop-sticks at the 151-mile marker. As the fleeing vehicle approached the 151-mile marker, the driver saw Trooper Bell’s police vehicle ahead and pulled over, surrendering to the police. Troopers conducted a high-risk traffic stop on the car and took the driver into custody without further incident.
During the custodial search of the driver and vehicle, troopers discovered marijuana. In a subsequent search of the interstate, troopers found additional bags of marijuana.
The driver, identified as Zachariah Avery Malek Randolph, 25, of Marion, Indiana, was arrested and preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, dealing marijuana, resisting law enforcement, and driving with his driver’s license suspended.
Trooper McClure was assisted in this investigation by other members of the Indiana State Police and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department.
