Full Notification

Waverly – (Morgan County) On December 10^th when Master Trooper Mark Clephane checked a vehicle at 83 MPH in a 60 MPH zone on State Road 37 near Big Bend Road in Morgan County, he immediately began pursuing the speeding car. Once M/Trooper Clephane’s emergency lights and sirens were activated, the suspect vehicle accelerated and went from the passing lane to the driving lane and even passed vehicles on the emergency berm. 

M/Trooper Clephane was able to identify the vehicle as a blue Audi convertible as it continued South on Waverly Road. Shortly thereafter M/Trp. Clephane saw an explosion of what turned out to be a picket board fence located in the 6700 block Waverly Road. More property damage was observed as the Audi was finally located with its driver’s door wide open, and no occupants.    

Once M/Trp Clephane began to search for the driver, he found two males waving and pointing towards the woods behind the adjacent property.  The men indicated that a white male wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve blue sweat shirt, short dark hair and a goatee beard had fled from the Audi after it crashed into their chicken coop.  

A manhunt ensued as ISP and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department began to set up a perimeter with the assistance of both departments K9 Units.

A nearby homeowner, who had witnessed the crash site, reported seeing a white male walking in his backyard near his home.  When the homeowner confronted the man, the man told him he had been down by the ponds and was just cutting through.  The homeowner told the man that he didn’t know him and that he didn’t belong there, to which the man told the homeowner, “I’m your neighbor, I’m Chad Rodgers.”  The homeowner said that he then stepped back and began to yell for his neighbor to call the police.  At this point, the white male dropped his hands and ran from the homeowner.  The homeowner’s description of the man he confronted matched that of the witnesses that initially observed the crash.

That evening, witnesses were able to positively identify Chadwick Allan Rodgers, 34 of Monrovia as the driver of the Audi. An arrest warrant was issued in Morgan County for Rodgers based upon witness testimony and probable cause found by M/Trp. Clephane. The investigation led M/Trp Clephane to the Boone County Jail where just prior to December 17^th, Rodgers had been lodged on separate charges.

Rodgers was transported to the Morgan County Jail on the following charges;  

Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle

Resisting Law Enforcement

Driving While Suspended (Prior)

Reckless Driving

Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident

Operation of a Motor Vehicle Without Financial Responsibility with a Prior

A Marion County Arrest Warrant was also served on Rodgers upon his arrest and transport to the Morgan County Jail. The Marion County Warrant was on separate charges.

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A Morgan County Jail mug photo of Rodgers was not available at the time of this release.

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DURNIL