Man faces 20 charges after high speed chase

 A Buffalo man faces more than 20 counts after allegedly leading local officers on a chase into Green County.

LaRue County Detention Center

Jeffrey Purdum

Jeffery Purdum (AKA Purdam), 34, was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck at a fast rate of speed about 5:30 p.m. Friday on Ky. 61, according to Chief Deputy Russell McCoy.

McCoy said the truck was weaving in and out of traffic and crossing the centerline when he spotted it. McCoy turned on his blue lights and gave chase in his cruiser when Purdum didn’t stop. He radioed dispatch to alert Constable Tim Ford in Mount Sherman of the pursuit.

Purdum’s truck reached speeds of 110 miles per hour and ran at least 15 vehicles off the roadway, McCoy said.

Ford was driving south on Ky. 61 toward Greensburg, attempting to maneuver in front of the speeding pickup, when Purdum’s truck struck his vehicle.

Purdum’s pickup continued into Green County. After traveling on Hwy. 88 for four miles, the truck turned on a side road and stopped in a driveway – apparently running out of gas.

Purdum allegedly got out of the truck and “took off running over the hills,” McCoy said.

“We were unable to locate him in the thick underbrush,” he said.

While McCoy, Ford and Deputy Eric Williamson were searching for him, a neighbor called Green County’s dispatch, saying he saw a man, later identified as Purdum, in a cornfield near the river.  

Before officers reached him, a civilian began struggling with the suspect, McCoy said. Deputy Williamson was first on scene and subdued Purdum.

Purdum was medically cleared by the Green County hospital before being lodged in the LaRue County Detention Center, according to McCoy.

Purdum was charged with 15 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment; two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, police officer; one count of first-degree assault on a police officer; and two counts of fleeing/evading in a motor vehicle.

Other traffic charges may be forthcoming. Purdum faces also charges in Green County, McCoy said.

He will be arraigned Wednesday in LaRue District Court. Bond was set at $50,000 cash.

Purdum recently served time for complicity, cultivating marijuana and promoting contraband in the LaRue County Detention Center, McCoy said. He has also an outstanding warrant for drug-related offenses in Michigan.

Greensburg City Police, Green County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police assisted with the chase.