Jackson County man arrested after Bedford police chase

A Jackson County man is under arrest in Lawrence County after allegedly fleeing from Indiana State Police.

Troopers say that they noticed a van driving with incorrect and out of date plates at about 6 p.m. Sunday night in Bedford. Officers tried to pull the van over but the driver allegedly raced away down State Road 58. Troopers say that the van made several dangerous passes of other vehicles and they called off the pursuit after losing sight of the van.

Shortly after that, a caller reported the van was parked near some woods. The driver and a passenger seen inside during the chase had run away from the abandoned vehicle and a manhunt was started in the area, including the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana DNR conservation officers and a State Police helicopter.

Although he wasn’t found at the scene, based on evidence found in the van, police identified the driver as 41-year-old Rickie J. Cockerham Jr., of Norman. He was found at his home and arrested on charges including being a habitual traffic violator with a lifetime ban, resisting law enforcement in a vehicle and on foot, criminal recklessness with a vehicle, reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The passenger has not been identified, police say.