Jefferson County Prosecutor's Office
January 13 at 10:41 AM

· STATEMENT: POLICE PURSUIT FATALITIES AND ARREST OF BRIAN JAMES

January 13, 2020 – Madison, Indiana – Prosecutor David Sutter issued the following statement regarding the recent police pursuit fatalities:

“Following the recent police pursuit crash and the fatalities of local young adults, the Indiana State Police has been investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash to evaluate the actions taken by local law enforcement as well as those who fled from police. I will receive a report of their investigation and will make charging decisions at that time.

The initial investigation indicates our local law enforcement officers followed all protocols for this type of engagement with fleeing suspects in the interest of the safety of the public. However, upon completion of the full investigation, I will certainly consider all facts put before me.”

“In the interest of transparency, it is important to relay some of the information we do know regarding the initiation of the police interaction with the fleeing suspects and new information that has come to light.

On January 10, 2020, Sgt. Stephen Wheeles of the Indiana State Police – Versailles Post, issued the following statement,

“On January 9, 2020 at approximately 3:45 pm, a Madison Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2005 Toyota passenger car in Madison, Indiana. The driver fled in the vehicle from the officer before crashing the vehicle west of Madison. Two passengers in the vehicle died as a result of the crash.

The initial investigation by Indiana State Police-Versailles Detectives indicated that the vehicle being driven by Blake S. Coombs, age 18, Madison, Indiana fled from the officer northbound on State Road 7 from Madison. The Indiana State Police and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department assisted the Madison Police Department in pursuing the vehicle. The vehicle turned westbound on State Road 250, southbound on State Road 3, and then eastbound on State Road 256 back towards Madison, Indiana.

Coombs lost control of the vehicle on SR 256 at Thompson Road. The vehicle left the roadway, striking two utility poles on the northeast corner of the intersection. A front seat passenger in the vehicle, Tyler Cooley, age 18, Hanover, Indiana and a backseat passenger, Brooklyn James, age 19, Madison, Indiana sustained fatal injuries in the crash. They were both pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. Coombs was airlifted from the scene to a Louisville area hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.

Coombs, who also went by the name Blake Eisenhower, was unlicensed at the time of the crash. Detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post assumed the lead role in the investigation. The ISP-Versailles Post Crash Reconstruction Team responded to investigate the crash. A crime scene investigator from the ISP-Sellersburg Post also assisted at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.” (End of State Police Statement)

“Information we have at this time alleges that the driver of the vehicle, Blake S. Coombs, 18, aka Blake Isenhower, fled from lawful detention in Richmond, Indiana and is being investigated for the theft of a vehicle from that facility.”

“In addition, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a burglary that occurred on January 9, 2020, involving stolen power tools and a 40” television. Law enforcement was provided information at the scene of the crash that Blake Coombs and Tyler Cooley were possible suspects in that burglary. Power tools and the remnants of a television were located by law enforcement at the crash scene.”

“Over the weekend, the father of one of the victims of the crash, Brian James, encountered law enforcement and gave a verbal indication to officers that he was a danger to himself or others. While at the Sheriff’s Department, Mr. James was arrested on a warrant issued for a domestic incident that is alleged to have occurred on October 29, 2019 involving Jackie James and Brooklyn James. The arrest warrant for Mr. James was issued on November 1, 2019. Mr. James was detained on the outstanding warrant on January 11, 2020, for his personal safety, the safety of others, and to begin the process of resolving that case.”

“Further information from law enforcement indicates that following the crash, Mr. James made several posts on social media, including a photograph of a gun and others in which references were made to potentially killing Blake Coombs and harming himself and law enforcement. Due to his criminal history, Mr. James is prohibited from possessing firearms. New charges are anticipated for these actions. Mr. James will have his initial hearing on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 11:15 a.m. in the Jefferson Circuit Court.”

“These charges are merely allegations and all suspects are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”

“I am keeping our community in my prayers, including the families and friends of the young adults involved, and our law enforcement officers who were involved in and at the scene. This is a tragic and unfortunate reminder to obey traffic stops and pull over safely, even if you fear the consequences. Thank you to the Indiana State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Madison Police Department for their work and service. I anticipate the full report on the investigation by the Indiana State Police in the coming weeks and will release additional information at that time.”


as reeported in the Madison Courier.
Authorities now say the car involved in a police chase and crash Thursday that claimed the lives of two Jefferson County teenagers and left a third, the driver, in critical condition, may have been involved in another crime that day.

The office of Jefferson County Prosecutor David Sutter issued a statement Monday morning noting that “in the interest of transparency, it is important to relay some of the information we do know regarding the initiation of the police interaction with the fleeing suspects and new information that has come to light.”

Based on preliminary investigations by detectives with the Indiana State Police, law enforcement authorities were trying to stop the driver, Blake S. Coombs, who had allegedly fled from lawful detention in Richmond, Indiana. In addition, Coombs and a passenger were allegedly suspects in a Jefferson County burglary that had taken place earlier on Thursday.

“Information we have at this time alleges that the driver of the vehicle, Blake S. Coombs, 18, aka Blake Isenhower, fled from lawful detention in Richmond, Indiana, and is being investigated for the theft of a vehicle from that facility,” said the statement from Sutter.

ISP Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Versailles Post, said the car involved in the crash was not the car reported missing in Richmond but one owned by Tyler Cooley. The car that was reported stolen in Richmond at the time of Coombs’ escape from detention has not been recovered.

However, the car owned by Cooley and driven by Coombs, may have been involved in a Jefferson County theft.

“The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a burglary that occurred on January 9, 2020, involving stolen power tools and a 40” television. Law enforcement was provided information at the scene of the crash that Blake Coombs and Tyler Cooley were possible suspects in that burglary. Power tools and the remnants of a television were located by law enforcement at the crash scene,” Sutter’s statement noted.

Cooley, 18, of Hanover, and Brooklyn James, 19, of Madison, both died when Coombs lost control of a blue 2005 Toyota Corolla-S that struck two utility poles at the intersection of S.R. 256 and Thompson Road near Kent. The violent crash brought to an end a 20-minute pursuit that began at 3:45 p.m. when Coombs fled from a Madison Police Department officer north on S.R. 7 with officers from the Indiana State Police and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department joining the pursuit as it continued westbound on S.R. 250, southbound on S.R. 3, and then eastbound on S.R. 256 back toward Madison.

Cooley, the front seat passenger, and James, who was in the back seat, were both pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. Coombs was airlifted from the scene to a Louisville-area hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.

In an interview later Monday morning, Sutter said it is too early to say what charges might be filed in the case with the death toll, the attempt to flee police and other investigations. He said the investigation is ongoing including autopsies and toxicology reports.

In his release Monday, Sutter noted that state police are also evaluating the actions taken by members of law enforcement in the incident.

“Following the recent police pursuit crash and the fatalities of local young adults, the Indiana State Police has been investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash to evaluate the actions taken by local law enforcement as well as those who fled from police. I will receive a report of their investigation and will make charging decisions at that time,” Sutter wrote. “The initial investigation indicates our local law enforcement officers followed all protocols for this type of engagement with fleeing suspects in the interest of the safety of the public. However, upon completion of the full investigation, I will certainly consider all facts put before me.

“I am keeping our community in my prayers, including the families and friends of the young adults involved, and our law enforcement officers who were involved in and at the scene,” Sutter wrote. “This is a tragic and unfortunate reminder to obey traffic stops and pull over safely, even if you fear the consequences. Thank you to the Indiana State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Madison Police Department for their work and service. I anticipate the full report on the investigation by the Indiana State Police in the coming weeks and will release additional information at that time.”