Melissa Gregory

mgregory@thetowntalk.com, (318) 792-1807

A Ball man told Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's deputies on Friday that he had divine approval for the 10-mile chase he led them on that reached speeds of around 100 mph.

Dylan Christopher Thompson, 20, of the 5900 block of Tall Pine Drive, told deputies after he was captured that God had been telling him to drive fast that day, and that other motorists on Keyser Avenue were leading him to drive fast, according to a sheriff's office release.

Deputies had been patrolling within Natchitoches around 6:20 p.m. Friday when they saw a 1999 Ford pickup truck being driven at a high rate of speed. "Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to stop turning right on Williams Avenue traveling northbound at excessive speeds, then onto Herman Taylor Road," it reads.

More deputies and Natchitoches Police Department officers responded to assist the pursuing deputy. The driver, later identified as Thompson, drove onto Levee Road, driving southbound and damaging gates and fencing, the release also reads.

Just as deputies were readying to deploy spike strips, the pursuing deputy radioed that Thompson had lost control of the truck and had run off the road. Deputies saw him and a passenger go into some nearby woods.

"Deputies issued verbal commands to both suspects to exit the woods, where they were taken into custody without resistance," it reads.

No injuries were reported.

Thompson allegedly had grabbed and pulled his unidentified passenger into the woods. The passenger was not charged.

"Deputies still have been unable to determine why the pair were in Natchitoches, other than just riding," reads the release.

Thompson was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. He was charged with speeding-maximum limit over 100 mph, aggravated flight from an officer, simple criminal damage to property and simple kidnapping.

He later was released on a $25,500 bond.