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Thursday night at approximately 8:50, Trooper Ross Rafferty was patrolling northbound on South Main Street near Monroe Street in Princeton when he observed a 1994 GMC pickup truck traveling southbound faster than the speed limit. Rafferty activated his radar and clocked the pickup truck at 43 mph in a 30 mph zone. The driver of the pickup truck also drove left of center and nearly struck Rafferty’s patrol car. Rafferty immediately activated his emergency lights and turned around to stop the vehicle, but the driver accelerated and refused to stop. The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through various narrow residential streets and failed to stop at several stop signs. The driver also disregarded an automatic signal when he crossed SR 64. The driver reached speeds of 50-55 mph while traveling on the residential streets in Princeton. The driver continued east on SR 64 and passed several vehicles in no passing zones. Speeds reached approximately 80 mph on SR 64.  Trooper Hunter Manning was able to deploy stop sticks on the east side of Francisco and deflate the vehicle’s left front tire. The driver continued east on SR 64 for approximately two more miles before coming to a stop at CR 850 East. The driver was arrested without further incident. He was identified as Anthony L. Meriweather, 38, of Princeton. Further investigation revealed Meriweather had been consuming alcohol and didn’t have a valid driver’s license. He was taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.
