It took less than 20 minutes for a Brown County jury to convict Juwan S. Williams of operating the vehicle that led police from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through Brown County in 2016.
Juwan S. Williams was convicted on May 13 of two counts of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury, Level 5 felonies, and one count of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle as a Level 6 felony.
Williams, who now identifies as a female, failed to appear for her jury trial.
Upon the jury returning guilty verdicts, Prosecutor Ted Adams asked for an arrest warrant with no bond and indicated the state’s desire to extradite Williams.
The chase took place nearly five years ago on Aug. 4, 2016. Adams explained the reason for such a delay: “After we filed this matter back in 2016 — and I only faintly remembered the case at the time because it was during the Daniel Messel murder trial — Ms. Williams absconded from justice for years. When we finally were able to bring her to court, we began prepping the matter for trial; then, the coronavirus delayed the matter for another year. Finally, we prepared to try the case in February; however, Ms. Williams allegedly got the coronavirus two days prior to our jury. The jury had already been called, and we had to postpone the trial yet again.”
Williams and three others had traveled from Tennessee up to the Edinburgh Outlet Mall where they stole dozens of Michael Kors purses from the Michael Kors Outlet Store.
Edinburgh Police were called with a description of the vehicle. Officer Robinson met the suspect red Toyota Camry nose-to-nose; he got a good look at the driver who later was identified as Williams. Williams fled and the chase was on.
The chase went south on I-65 at speeds exceeding 120 mph. At the Columbus exit, Williams abruptly exited and headed west toward Nashville. Indiana State Police, the Columbus Police Department and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department units joined. Brown County units, including Deputy Josh Stargell and Lt. Mike Moore, were also notified.
As the chase crossed the Brown County line, Stargell gave chase behind Williams and Officer Robinson at speeds over 120 mph. The jury heard of the erratic driving of Williams, including forcing other drivers off the road while police kept their distance. Williams then abruptly turned left onto Hawthorne Road by the Nashville McDonald’s. Law enforcement fanned out.
The jury saw dash cam of Williams driving straight at officers, striking a Bartholomew County deputy’s vehicle, and driving through the grass and striking a planter at Hawthorne Hills. The chase then headed back out onto 46 East, with Williams nearly striking a vehicle. Stop sticks were deployed, but were ineffective. Multiple police cars dropped out of the chase due to damage.
The chase culminated with Williams striking a civilian vehicle driven by Seth Woodason and then careening off into the deep embankment at the intersection of 135 South and 46 East.
“It was a Dukes of Hazzard-style launch,” Adams told the jury.
The rear-seat passengers suffered serious bodily injuries. Two officers sustained minor injuries. Woodason and his wife were sore after Williams’ car careened off theirs.
The defense argued mistaken identity. All four suspects were Black, and two, including Williams, were dressed as women. Adams and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Seet argued that there was far too much corroboration among law enforcement and medical personnel for mistaken identity to be a reasonable defense, including Williams admitting to being the driver while talking with EMS.
The jury took 19 minutes to convict Williams on all counts, who faces up to 12 years in prison.
