Kieth Darnell McCoy, 43, of Indianapolis, is facing multiple felony charges after Lake County Sheriff’s Department deputies alleged he accelerated down Interstate 65 with two officers inside his vehicle during a violent struggle following a traffic stop earlier this week.
According to court documents, McCoy was stopped on May 5 near the 246 southbound mile marker on I-65 after a deputy allegedly paced his 1998 Chevy traveling 93 mph in a posted 70 mph zone.
Court documents state the deputy approached the vehicle and “could smell what he recognized through his training and experience as marijuana emanating from the vehicle.” Investigators allege McCoy refused commands to exit the vehicle while holding “a clear baggie with multicolor pills in his right hand” and allegedly attempted to stuff the pills into the passenger seat.
According to the affidavit, deputies attempted to physically remove McCoy from the vehicle to prevent the destruction of evidence, but investigators allege he forcibly resisted. Court documents state another deputy entered the vehicle to assist while officers repeatedly commanded McCoy to stop resisting.
Investigators allege McCoy then put the vehicle in drive “with both officers in it” and accelerated southbound on I-65 while steering through all lanes of traffic and “appearing to attempt to run into two different semi-trucks.” Court documents state McCoy maintained “a firm grip on the steering wheel” while deputies attempted to arrest him inside the moving vehicle.
According to investigators, McCoy drove with the two deputies inside the vehicle for approximately one mile and for more than one minute before allegedly opening the driver’s door and jumping from the moving vehicle onto the interstate. Deputies stated McCoy continued fleeing on foot until he was tased and taken into custody.
Court documents state deputies recovered one baggie containing a white powdery substance from the roadway, a baggie containing multicolored pills from the vehicle, seven cell phones and a small bag of suspected marijuana. Investigators stated the multicolored pills weighed 106.4 grams and field-tested positive for MDMA. The white powder reportedly weighed 4.3 grams and field-tested positive for cocaine, while the suspected marijuana weighed 9.9 grams.
Investigators also alleged McCoy possessed additional baggies containing white powder that were not recovered along the interstate. Detectives stated the quantity of suspected narcotics, seven cell phones, McCoy’s alleged flight and resistance led investigators to believe he possessed the cocaine with intent to deliver.
“I commend these police officers for their bravery, professionalism and quick action during this dangerous incident. They remained focused; keeping the public safe and ultimately removing narcotics from our streets. The courage these officers exhibited under pressure deserves to be recognized,” Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said.
Court documents also state investigators reviewed Indiana court records and determined McCoy was previously convicted of dealing cocaine in Lake County in 2015 and resisting law enforcement while using a vehicle in 2021.
Charges filed May 6,2026:
Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance — Level 2 Felony
Dealing Cocaine (Possession With Intent, Enhancing Circumstance) — Level 3 Felony
Dealing Cocaine (Possession With Intent) — Level 4 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle With Prior Vehicle RLE Conviction — Level 4 Felony (2 counts)
Battery By Means of a Deadly Weapon — Level 5 Felony (2 counts)
Possession of Cocaine (Enhancing Circumstance) — Level 5 Felony
Criminal Confinement Where a Vehicle Was Used — Level 5 Felony (2 counts)
Kidnapping Where Committed By Using a Vehicle — Level 5 Felony (2 counts)
Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle — Level 6 Felony (2 counts)
Obstruction of Justice — Level 6 Felony
Battery Against a Public Safety Official — Level 6 Felony (2 counts)
Kidnapping — Level 6 Felony (2 counts)
Criminal Confinement — Level 6 Felony (2 counts)
Possession of Cocaine — Level 6 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement — Class A Misdemeanor (2 counts)
Possession of Marijuana With Prior Drug Conviction — Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Marijuana — Class B Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving — Class C Misdemeanor
