Southern Indiana officer dies in police chase

SCOTT COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — One man is facing multiple charges after a police officer died in southern Indiana in an attempt to apprehend him.

Officials were initially notified around 10:20 p.m. Wednesday night of a pursuit of a suspect in Clark County after Officer Benton Bertram attempted to stop a vehicle belonging to 35-year-old Benjamin Eads for a traffic violation.

Eads fled north on State Road 3 into Scott County. As the pursuit continued into State Road 3 and State Road 56 of Scottsburg, officer Bertram’s vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree in the front yard of a nearby home. Officer Bertram was pronounced dead on the scene.

Eads was later located in Clark County. He faces charges of resisting law enforcement causing death, resisting law enforcement and theft. 

Eads remains in Scott County Jail. 

Officer Bertram was a 9-year veteran of the Charlestown City Police Department.