Greensburg, IN — On March 3, 2023, at approximately 11:19 p.m. an officer from the City of Greensburg Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 74 near the 134-mile marker.
The vehicle, a red Volkswagon Jetta occupied by two people was stopped for numerous violations.
While the Greensburg Police Officer was speaking to the occupants of the vehicle they noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the inside of the vehicle.
The officer believed that the driver was giving false identity statements due to a lack of knowledge of personal information. The officer asked the passenger Darrell Rhyme to exit the vehicle. Rhyme refused to exit the vehicle.
The officer continued to give commands for Rhyme to exit the vehicle. The officer noticed that Jamesha McChristine (the driver) kept touching the gear shift. The officer told McChristine to put the vehicle in park and that is when McChristine drove off at a high rate of speed.
McChristine drove in excess of one hundred miles per hour on Interstate 74 where the speed limit is seventy miles per hour. McChristine exited the Interstate at the 143 Exit and then got right back on Interstate 74 traveling eastbound.
McChristine exited the interstate at the 149-mile marker. Once off of the interstate McChristine and Rhyme fled the vehicle on foot near the intersection of I-74 and Main Street. McChristine and Rhyme were both taken into custody following short foot pursuits.
During the foot pursuit, Rhyme ignored the commands of the officers to stop resisting. A Taser was deployed by an assisting agency and Rhyme was taken into custody. Once Rhyme was in custody he immediately received medical treatment for injuries sustained during a fall in the foot pursuit.
McChristine was transported to the Decatur County Jail.
Rhyme was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and later released for further treatment.
McChristine was charged with Resisting Law Enforcement with a motor vehicle, a Level 6 Felony; Identity Deception, a level 6 Felony; Forgery, a Level 6 Felony; Reckless Driving. a Class A Misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor, and Operating a Motor Vehicle While Never Receiving a License, a Class C Misdemeanor.
Rhyme was charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Possession of Marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor.
As part of the investigation, the Decatur County Prosecutors Office has received over four and one-half hours of body camera, in-car camera, and business security footage.
The Greensburg Police Department would like to thank all agencies who assisted in this case.
We would also like to thank members of the public who commented on social media. Due to your assistance, we were able to obtain the true identity of Rhyme who had also provided false identity statements.
An internal review has been conducted and determined that no violation of Greensburg Police Department Policy or Procedure occurred.
(Greensburg Police Department press release)
