A 31-year-old man was arrested Monday afternoon following a police pursuit in New Albany.
Robert E. Hackney Jr., who has lived recently in New Albany and Jeffersonville, was reportedly driving a Pontiac Bonneville when the car hit a telephone pole at the corner of E. Eighth and Jackson streets in front of American Machine Fabrication.
The impact of the wreck ripped wires from the outside of a home, and utility companies had to be called to connect those from the pole to the home. No injuries were reported.
According to police, an officer saw the Pontiac traveling at a high rate of speed and attempted to pursue him. The driver reportedly lost control while turning a corner, which caused the wreck. After a brief foot pursuit, Hackney was arrested.
New Albany Police Department officers authorized to speak to the media were not available to discuss the incident. Preliminary charges were not available as of press deadline because Hackney was receiving medical treatment and had not been booked in to jail.
However, Hackney is well-known to law enforcement officers in the area. He was one of three men arrested for allegedly breaking into and stealing automatic teller machines from the Goodwill Store and Sammy O’s Tavern off of U.S. 150 in Floyds Knobs on April 15, 2007.
After burglar alarms sounded at both businesses, police found now-30-year-old Gary Gallien with a hand dolly hauling an ATM out of the rear door at Sammy O’s, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Police stopped Gallien, but two others escaped through a fire door on the other side of the building.
John P. McCutchen was found hiding in the woods within 30 minutes after the burglaries, and police later located Hackney in a brush pile of Old Hill Road. The men were connected by phone records.
The 2003 Chevrolet Blazer they were allegedly driving had been reported stolen, and McCutchen had been named as a suspect in the vehicle’s theft.
The men were charged with two counts of class C felony burglary, two counts of class D felony theft and charges of receiving stolen property and resisting law enforcement.
Gallien requested a speedy trial and was convicted and sentenced in Floyd County Circuit Court in September 2007 to 28 years at the Indiana Department of Correction. His earliest release date from the Putnamville Correctional Facility is in 2021.
McCutchen pleaded guilty to burglary in May of this year and was sentenced to two years of home incarceration with 100 hours of community service followed by four years of probation.
Hackney’s case is pending in Floyd County Circuit Court. He was released on $35,000 court-cash bond in June 2007.
He spent time at the Department of Correction on drug charges in Clark County in 2008 and theft charges in Spencer County in 2006. After being released from prison the second time, he was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear on the burglary case. He was released on recognizance after it was discovered he missed a hearing because of being in prison.
Hackney now could face new charges in Kentucky from a 2004 case.
Mount Washington Police Department Detective Buddy Stump said an ATM was stolen from a store in April 2004. Blood was found on the ATM, and DNA results obtained within the past couple of weeks may link Hackney to the burglary.
“We’ve been advised there was a DNA match,” Stump said. “We’re definitely going to be looking at him.”
Stump said he likely will seek a grand jury indictment on charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief.
Floyd County
Man crashes into utility pole after police pursuit in New Albany
Suspect has history with police, connected to 2004 burglary
- Floyd County
-
-
Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
-
New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
-
Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
-
Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
-
New Albany ‘in the process of deciding’ riverfront schedule
Several parties have expressed interest in helping with planning events and Gahan said “I want to encourage” an inclusive group to manage the program. He added his administration wants to press for more shows at the downtown farmers’ market stage off Market Street as well.
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
