SOMERSET, KY - According to the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office: On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, Sheriff Bobby Jones reported the arrest of Issac L. Dunlap, age 20, of Providence Road in Somerset, Kentucky, arising from a pursuit on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 3:37 AM involving the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and the Somerset Police Department.
During the morning hours of September 2, 2023, Deputy Dylan West and Deputy Noah Wesley were conducting a traffic stop at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Bogle St. when Deputy West saw several Somerset Police Department units following a vehicle southbound on U.S. 27 with their emergency equipment activated coming in their direction. Deputy West and Deputy Wesley then entered the pursuit in an attempt to help the Somerset Police Department.
At traffic light #11, the vehicle driver stopped, and the officers got out of their vehicles, attempting to get Dunlap out of his vehicle. After verbally commanding him to exit the vehicle, Dunlap took off again, almost striking Somerset Police Department Officers.
Officers returned to their vehicles and continued to pursue Dunlap southbound on U.S. 27.
Dunlap turned right onto Grand Central Blvd. and swerved all over the roadway, and then turned left onto Oak Hill Road at a high rate of speed and then turned his headlights off as he continued until he turned onto HWY 914, traveling in the westbound direction. While traveling on HWY 914, he was all over the roadway, traveling at speeds in excess of 90 MPH.
Once officers backed off Dunlap, he continued to travel at high rates of speed with his lights off as he continued to disregard traffic laws and the public safety.
After reaching the intersection of HWY 914 and West HWY 80, Dunlap disregarded the red light, almost striking another vehicle in the rear end as they entered the intersection.
Officers continued to the Cumberland Parkway, where Dunlap operated his vehicle recklessly by swerving all over the roadway at high rates of speed, striking the guard rail on the right-hand side.
While traveling westbound on the parkway, Dunlap got over into the eastbound lane, continuing to travel with his lights off, with oncoming traffic almost striking him head-on. Dunlap then came to a stop.
Deputy West and Deputy Wesley parked their cruisers in a way to keep Dunlap from traveling any further in the eastbound lane. Deputy West approached the driver's side while Deputy Wesley approached the passenger side and attempted to access the windows with their flashlights and ASP batons, trying to get Dunlap out of the vehicle.
Dunlap then placed his vehicle in reverse, backed up approximately 20 to 30 feet, put it in drive, and rammed Deputy West's cruiser head-on, trying to push it out of the way. Dunlap then backed up again and tried to go around Deputy Wesley's cruiser, coming at Deputy West head-on, causing him to jump behind Deputy Wesley's cruiser to avoid being struck. Deputy Wesley had to jump into the median, putting him in danger of being struck by oncoming traffic. As Dunlap tried to go around Deputy Wesley's cruiser, he struck it on the rear end, fleeing as he continued westbound in the eastbound lane.
Dunlap crossed over the median into the westbound lane, losing control of his vehicle, and wrecked out on the right-hand shoulder of the westbound lane. Deputy West struck Dunlap's vehicle to keep him from entering the roadway and continuing to flee.
After a brief struggle, Deputy West removed Dunlap from his vehicle and placed him on the ground, where he was arrested.
Somerset/Pulaski EMS responded to the scene to give medical aid to Dunlap. He was then transported to the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital for medical attention and released to the Pulaski County Detention Center without further incident.
According to a citation written by Deputy Dylan West, Issac L. Dunlap was charged with:
- Fleeing and Evading, 1st Degree (Motor Vehicle)
- Failure to or Improper Signal
- Wanton Endangerment, First Degree Police Officer (2 Counts)
- Driving DUI Suspended License, 3rd Offense
- Criminal Mischief, First Degree (2 Counts)
- Speeding 26 MPH over the speed limit
- Disregarding a Traffic Control Device, Traffic Light
This individual was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center where he is currently being held at the time of the publication of this report.
Photo of the accused is courtesy of the Pulaski County Detention Center.
Before Deputy West and Deputy Wesley joined the pursuit, Dunlap had struck a vehicle at the intersection of West HWY 80 and Ringgold Road, Dunlap then continued to Burger King North, where he struck the building.
He then got onto HWY U.S. 27, traveling southbound when the Somerset PD units contacted him.
Dunlap showed several times he was not going to stop driving recklessly and had no regard for the public's safety. Dunlap was a danger to not only himself but the safety of the public driving in this type of reckless manner.
The pursuit is still under investigation by SGT. Alex Wesley and will be presented to a Pulaski County Grand Jury.
Sheriff Bobby Jones asks if you have any information about any crime to contact our tip line at 606-679-8477. You can also leave a tip on our webpage at PulaskiSheriff.com.
You can remain anonymous by texting PCSOTIP to 847411, or by using our mobile app on both Google Play and the App Store.
