LONDON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Two men from out of state faced a Laurel County judge Wednesday morning to enter pleas for a number of charges, including the attempted murder of a police officer.
Police say the two, along with another man and a woman, were involved with a police chase earlier in the week.
All four were in court Wednesday, and the judge highlighted the seriousness of the alleged crimes.
On Monday around noon, police were dispatched to L&N Credit Union on Kentucky Highway 192 to check on a a black minivan that was believed to have been involved in possible thefts in Laurel County.
When the officers arrived at the credit union, they tried to speak with the people inside. Police say that the passenger, 27-year-old Tabitha Borborema, of Burlington, New Jersey, refused to speak. They say that the driver, 24-year-old Jonathan Murphy, of Enfield, Connecticut, was acting nervous.
Police said that a backseat passenger, 26-year-old Louis Green, of Pompano Beach, Florida, grabbed the gearshift while the driver accelerated to reverse the van. Police say that as the van reversed, two officers were pinned up against a concrete column. The vehicle knocked officers to the ground and then sped off toward the downtown area, police say.
A pursuit happened and ended at a railroad crossing that was under construction on East 4th Street.
The vehicle crashed on the railroad tracks and then police say the passengers led officers on a foot pursuit. Police say that 28-year-old Richard Baker, of Pompano Beach. Florida, fled on foot and resisted arrest, causing injury to an officer.
All four were arrested and taken to the Laurel County Detention Center.
- Jonathan C. Murphy, 24, of Enfield, Conn., charged with attempted murder of a police officer, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree fleeing or evading police with a motor vehicle, first-degree fleeing or evading police on foot, and resisting arrest.
- Louis J. Green Jr., 26, of Pompano Beach, Florida, charged with attempted murder of a police officer, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree fleeing or evading police with a motor vehicle, first-degree fleeing or evading police on foot, and resisting arrest.
- Richard C. Baker, 28, of Pompano Beach, Florida, charged with fleeing or evading police on foot, third-degree assault of a police officer, and resisting arrest.
- Tabitha Borborema, 27, of Burlington, N.J., charged with fleeing and evading on foot.
Baker’s criminal history caught the judge’s eye on Wednesday.
“I’ve got your NCIC record. It’s significant,” said Judge John Paul Chappell. “It’s 23 pages long? It’s 34 pages long. A lot of history here.
Each of the four suspects are being held on a $1,000 cash bail.
