Beech Tree News Network

Local law enforcement officers and emergency personnel were busy overnight with stranded boaters, a high-speed chase, and attempted theft involving a stolen vehicle from Bowling Green.

The flurry of activity started shortly before midnight last night when two boaters from Muhlenberg County went over the dam at Rochester.  According to Butler County Emergency Management Director Terry Hunt, the two men were apparently fishing above the dam in a small aluminum boat with a trolling motor.  The boat got caught in the current and the boat started over the dam when the two men jumped out. Boaters from Butler County fishing below the dam heard the commotion and called 911.  Butler, Ohio, and Muhlenberg County Rescue Squads, as well as EMS units and fire departments responded to the scene. The two men were rescued from the rocks at the dam without injury.  

---

At around 4 a.m., officers with the Butler County Sheriff's Department responded to an assault complaint in the Logansport area of Butler County.  A high-speed chase ensued in Logansport, continued across the Aberdeen Bridge and onto KY 79 North (Caneyville Road).  Eventually the suspect(s) were able to elude police near the Oak Ride area of north Butler County.  However, Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward said he knows the identity of the suspect, who will be facing several felony charges when apprehended.  According to Ward, warrants are in the process of being obtained.  More information about this case will be made available following the arrest of the suspect(s).

---

Finally, at around 6:30 a.m. this morning, Bill Mills, owner of Kentucky Crossroads Market (KY 79N-70E), reported to police that a male subject had broken into his wife's vehicle in the store parking lot.  Butler County Sheriff's Deputy Trey Flener respond to the scene and arrested Roger Thompson (DOB 10/24/68) of Cave City. The suspect was apparently in the process of taking gas jugs and attempting to cipher gas from vehicles around the store lot.  Upon arrest, Deputy Flener discovered that Thompson was driving a stolen red F-150 pickup belonging to Christopher Graham of Bowling Green.  The truck had a stolen license plate from Dewayne's Auto Sales in Morgantown.  The Kentucky State Police (KSP) has an ongoing investigation for the stolen vehicle. 

Flener also found other presumably stolen items in Thompson's possession, apparently taken from around the outside of the store building.  The store itself was not burglarized. 

Thompson is facing charges of alcohol intoxication, theft of a motor vehicle, and theft by unlawful taking.  He is lodged in the Butler County Jail.  The KSP is taking over the theft charges since it already had an open case.       

---

Story by John Embry, Beech Tree News.