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New Castle – A Hagerstown man was arrested last night on felony charges after he refused to stop and led police on a lengthy pursuit through Henry County. The events started last night around 11:15 p.m. when Trooper Thomas Ratliff was east bound on Cherry St. from SR3 in New Castle when he saw a Chevrolet work van in front of him go left of center. 

Ratliff activated his lights but the van refused to stop and turned north on Hawthorne. The van continued through several city streets, finally running the stop light on SR38 at SR 3 where it continued west on 38 out of town.  After turning north then back south, the van ended up in Greensboro where Trooper Eric Patterson joined the pursuit.

The van went west out of town and wound around county roads, ending up on SR 103 north bound where New Castle Officer Nicholson deployed stop sticks. The van was finally stopped after a tire began to deflate around 11:55 p.m. on SR 103 at CR 300 S. The van was occupied by a male driver, a male passenger and a female passenger.

The driver, Christopher Godsey, age 31, was arrested and charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony and misdemeanor Driving While Suspended, Criminal Recklessness and Reckless Driving.  In addition Godsey was found to be wanted on a warrant out of Jay County for Level 6 Felony Auto Theft. The passengers, who cooperated at the scene, were released and not charged.

The van was found to have a false and fictitious registration and was impounded. Trooper Ratliff was assisted by Troopers Patterson, Beamon, Tucker and Keegan, as well as the New Castle Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Department.
 
 
 All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law