License Plate, Busted Street Sign Lead To Oxford Arrest

In early March, town workers found a knocked-over street sign surrounded by broken car parts and a license plate. 

The discovery launched an investigation by the Oxford state trooper’s office, and the owner of the license plate was arrested last week.

Rodney Chase, 27, of Oxford, was charged with evading the scene of an accident on May 17, after he turned himself in to police for an outstanding warrant. 

The arrest was his second in two weeks dealing with car accidents that reportedly happened at the end of February. 

The First Crash

Chase’s first interaction with police was Feb. 27. 

Police responded to a one-car crash on Route 67, near Hogsback Road, and found Chase laying down in the grass a short distance from his truck. 

The truck had swerved off the road headed north, and hit a guard rail and a tree before stopping near Little River Brook. 

Chase told police he wasn’t driving the car: he was waiting for the driver to return after the driver ran away from the scene. 

Chase was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury with a hand injury. 

Police obtained a search warrant for Chase’s medical records, which indicated his blood alcohol level was more than two times the legal limit at the time of the crash. 

Police arrested him May 4 on a warrant for driving under the influence. 

The Second Crash

Police believe Chase hit a street sign on Chestnut Tree Hill Road during the same weekend of the first accident. 

Public works employees found his license plate, along with broken car parts, with the knocked-over street sign the following week. 

But the license plate alone wasn’t enough to get a warrant for his arrest, according to Oxford state trooper Sgt. Dan Semosky.

“This investigation was difficult because Chase had to be placed at the scene,” he said.

Police were able to connect Chases’ truck to the scene by comparing tire marks from the scene with tread samples from the truck, which was already impounded because of the Feb. 27 crash. 

Police said they also needed to get eyewitness accounts of the accident in order to obtain a warrant.

Chase has pleaded not-guilty to the driving under the influence charge, and is scheduled to be arraigned for the evading responsibility charge on June 3. 

Keep local reporting alive. Donate.ValleyIndy.org