
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 20, 1994                   TAG: 9409220054
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                 LENGTH: Short

CHASE WITH POLICE LEADS TO CHARGES

A 32-year-old Pulaski County man faces a series of charges, including attempting to injure a state trooper, after a chase early Monday in which a pickup truck rammed several state police cars.

Larry L. Barton of Dublin was arrested after his pickup flipped over just inside the Pulaski County line, after a chase on Interstate 81 at speeds up to 100 mph.

State Police Sgt. David Shaver said the 20-minute chase started when a trooper tried to pull over the truck on I-81 for speeding in Wythe County, and its driver refused to stop.

Vehicles from the state police, the Wythe County Sheriff's Office and the Wytheville Police Department joined in trying to stop the truck. At one point, several troopers attempted a ``rolling roadblock'' by driving their cars alongside one another in front of the truck and gradually slowing down to force the truck to stop.

Instead, the truck rammed three of the cars before it flipped over. Barton was taken to Wythe County Community Hospital in Wytheville, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

Trooper Lonnie Pennington suffered cuts and bruises in the collision, giving rise to the charge of attempted malicious wounding against Barton.

Barton also faces charges of driving under the influence, speeding, attempting to elude police, reckless driving, and three charges of destroying state property.

He was being held Monday in the Wythe County Jail on $100,000 bond, pending a hearing Oct. 24 in General District Court.

by CNB