Man Faces Theft, DUI Charges After Parkway Joyride

By West Kentucky Star Staff

GRAVES COUNTY, KY - A man was arrested Wednesday after he apparently stole a car and took it on a joyride while intoxicated.

Graves County Sheriff Dewayne Redmon says deputies were dispatched at around 8 am Wednesday to a car that ran off the road at the 32 mile marker of the Purchase Parkway. Witnesses said the male driver fled on foot, running up an embankment toward the Panther Creek Road bridge overpass. Shortly thereafter, the car was reported stolen by the owner, Miranda Murphy.

Murphy told police she had taken her mother to dialysis at Jackson Purchase Medical Center. She said that as she was at the doctor’s building stop sign, she ran out of gas. She said her boyfriend, Tim Roper, and another man, David Riley, arrived to assist her.

Roper stayed with the car so it would not get towed. Riley and Murphy retrieved a gas can and went back to the car. After the car had some gas put in it, Riley said he would pull it out of the intersection and into a parking space.

Riley got in and started the car then fled. He then got on the parkway, where several people witnessed him driving recklessly. Deputies said Riley made it approximately seven miles before running out of gas and ditching the car.

He was found around 1:30 Wednesday afternoon on Panther Creek Road after he reportedly tried to get a ride at a home. He was taken to the sheriff’s office where he allegedly admitted to ingesting methamphetamine prior to taking the car.

Riley was placed under arrest for theft by unlawful taking-auto over $10,000, DUI 3rd aggravated, and driving on a DUI suspended license. He was lodged at the Graves County Jail.