Chad Michael White, 43, West Virginia
HANCOCK COUNTY — The man who gave local law enforcement a rough time Wednesday morning after he fled when they had stopped to assist him at the side of the road is now facing local charges in addition to sex crime charges in other states.
Officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department (HCSD) say the man they captured is dangerous and they feel fortunate to have him off the streets.
The suspect has been identified as Chad Michael White, 43, South Charleston, West Virginia. He was booked into the Hancock County Jail late Wednesday evening after the HCSD and officials from other agencies around the county found him hiding under a tree with the help of a K-9 officer.
Capt. Robert Harris, public information officer for the HCSD, noted that White has an extensive criminal history in West Virginia and Ohio.
“He had open warrants from both states, including sexual assault of a minor in West Virginia, including sexual assault 2nd degree, sexual assault 3rd degree, as well as solicitation,” Harris said.
Officials are not sure of the exact charges he’s faced in Ohio, but he had warrants for his arrest in both states.
“The ironic fact is that his warrants from West Virginia and Ohio did not include Indiana for extradition,” Harris said. “So, if he would have provided his real name, we would have learned his warrants would not extradite him from Indiana, so we would have released him.”
However, White took off running from law enforcement after an official from the HCSD had located the suspect’s motorcycle near CR 1000N, just east of Ind. 9 in Greenfield.
The suspect at the time was apparently knocking on doors in the area to get gas, Harris said. When another deputy stopped to help, the suspect provided false information about his name and age. When the officials confronted the suspect about the information being false, the suspect fled east into a field.
After several hours of searching by numerous law enforcement departments on two separate occasions, including getting help from an Indiana State Police helicopter, White was found late Wednesday afternoon.
Due to the fact White took of running, officials from the HCSD were able to charge him and then contacted West Virginia officials, who Harris noted were very happy to learn local officials had White in custody.
“They have amended his warrant and requested we hold him,” Harris said. “At some point, in addition to our charges and other charges in Ohio, he will be extradited back to West Virginia.”
Harris said that, locally, White is facing preliminary charges of providing false information to law enforcement, resisting law enforcement and fleeing. He was being held without bond until local charges can be officially filed by officials in the Hancock County Prosecutor’s office.
