The Christian County Grand Jury returned several felony indictments Friday, including on charges of wanton endangerment, robbery, burglary and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Jaylen McGee and Javonta Collins, both of Hopkinsville and Katelyn Rhodes of Clarksville, were each indicted on one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument. Additionally, Collins was indicted on several other charges including fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance and marijuana, two counts of wanton endangerment and some traffic-related offenses.
The charges are from December 9th when Collins is accused of fleeing from Hopkinsville Police when officers attempted to make a traffic stop on South Campbell Street and he took off. Police said Collins reached speeds of 80 mph during the pursuit which ended when Collins’ vehicle hit a bridge on East 18th Street at South Campbell Street.
During a search of the vehicle, police reportedly found marijuana, Buprenorphine, forged checks, a printer, a laptop, a card reader, and multiple phones.
Collins and his passengers, McGee and Rhodes were taken into custody and lodged in the Christian County Jail.
A true bill was returned on Merle Watkins, of Hopkinsville, on charges of robbery, burglary, criminal mischief and resisting arrest after he allegedly shoplifted some meat and stabbed a store employee at Food Giant who approached him on January 10. Police said Watkins also broke a window with a fire extinguisher.
David Graham of Hopkinsville was indicted on charges of burglary and fleeing and evading police on foot on December 13th after Hopkinsville Police received multiple calls about him attempting to break into several houses and entering one of the homes. While officers were looking for Graham, he reportedly fled on foot, jumping fences and trying to get into homes to hide. He was apprehended by a law enforcement K9.
The grand jury indicted Joseph Chesnut, Paul Thurston, and Howard Bishop, all of Hopkinsville, on charges of burglary, possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to the indictment, this was Thurston’s second offense for meth possession.
The charges stem from January 7 when Hopkinsville Police reported the three men were found inside a home on Canton Street in which the owner was incarcerated.
