High speed chase Monday evening results in multiple felony charges

A man who fled police officers in New Albany Monday evening, December 6, faces multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, after a highspeed chase ended near Myrtle.

A few minutes before 7 p.m., a New Albany Police Department (NAPD) narcotics officer saw a motor vehicle run two stoplights in downtown. Then its headlights were turned off and it sped west on Bankhead Street. The NAPD officer pursued the vehicle with flashing blue lights.

The pursued vehicle cut over to Interstate -22 and went west on I-22. Other NAPD officers joined the chase. The fleeing vehicle apparently developed a mechanical problem, perhaps a blown engine, and finally stopped on I-22 west of Myrtle

The driver of the vehicle, Ronald Kent Sandie, a 35-year old white male of 1121 Willow Lane in New Albany, emerged from the stopped vehicle. NAPD Chief Chris Robertson told NEMiss.News that Sandie was holding a three-year old child and briefly held the child in front of him as a kind of shield.

Officers were able to subdue Sandie, and booked him into the Union County jail. Sandie is father of the three year old, who was taken into custody by Child Protective Services.

Chief Robertson said Sandie is charged with felony fleeing, attempted aggravated assault, two counts of child neglect, and kidnapping. Bond was set at $5,000 on the fleeing charge and $50,000 on the aggravated assault charges. Bond on the child neglect and kidnaping charges have not yet been set by a court.

During the pursuit, Sandie struck two other motor vehicles, causing injuries to one of the drivers.

Robertson said he was talking with District Attorney Ben Creekmore about the case, and additional felony and misdemeanor charges may be added to those Sandie already faces.

As this is written Tuesday evening, Sandie remains in the Union County jail.

Shortly before the Sandie chase, a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle on East Bankhead St., resulting in what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries to the pedestrian.