In a bizarre series of events, a Google Maps Street View car operator led Middletown, Indiana, police officers on a high-speed chase after it was clocked driving at speeds over 100 mph.
The suspect, Coleman Ferguson, identified by a driver’s license as a Florida resident, is currently being held in the Henry County Jail, facing one count of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony.
The incident took place on July 31 after a Middletown police officer noticed a small SUV recklessly passing multiple vehicles on U.S. 36 in front of Shenandoah High School.
Chief Landon J. Dean, who witnessed the incident, estimated the vehicle’s speed to be over 100 miles per hour, well above the posted speed limit of 55 mph, and 40 mph when school zone lights are flashing.
Chief Dean soon realized that the speeding vehicle was none other than a car outfitted with what appeared to be Google Maps Street View equipment, complete with several 360-degree cameras mounted on a tall antenna affixed to the roof of the car.
The chief then initiated a pursuit and managed to catch up with the Google car in the 8500 block of West U.S. 36. However, instead of complying with the officers, the vehicle continued to evade capture, maintaining a dangerously high speed while overtaking other vehicles on the road.
The pursuit extended into Madison County, during which Ferguson allegedly disregarded a red light at the intersection of State Road 109 and U.S. 36. Despite the increased attention drawn by the chase, the Google driver continued his attempt to evade law enforcement.
The chase took a dramatic turn as Ferguson attempted to turn south, just east of Pendleton, due to a bridge being out. In a display of recklessness, he lost control of the car, plowed through a yard and ultimately crashed into a creek, leaving the vehicle immobilized.
Once Ferguson was safely apprehended by the officers, he claimed to be a Google employee and stated that he was fearful of stopping. He was subsequently taken into custody and transported to Henry Community Health Hospital in New Castle for medical evaluation before being lodged in the Henry County Jail.
Middletown Police Department received assistance from the Pendleton Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Office during the incident. Emergency response units from Madison County Fire and EMS were also deployed to the scene.
Formal criminal charges are expected to be filed by the Henry County Prosecutor’s Office. As with any legal case, the release added that Ferguson is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Following the incident, Google released a statement saying that Ferguson was an external contractor for the company.
“We take the safety of our Street View operations very seriously,” said a Google spokesperson. “We’re committed to working with the contracted company and local authorities to ensure the proper actions are taken to address this situation.”
