05/27/2026
Pursuit from Hancock to Ohio County ends in multiple charges
By Jennifer Wimmer
A Hancock County man is facing multiple felony charges after a vehicle pursuit May 26 that began in Hancock County and ended in Ohio County, according to law enforcement.
In a Facebook post, the Ohio County Sheriff's Office said its 911 dispatch was contacted by Hancock County Dispatch at about 5:17 p.m. requesting assistance with a pursuit entering Ohio County.
The post stated the driver of a silver Ford F-150, identified as Cody Wedding, had rammed a Hancock County deputy cruiser and had his ex-wife and child in the vehicle.
Hancock County Sheriff's Deputy Butch Garst was the deputy whose cruiser was struck. Garst's Dodge Durango sustained damage but he continued pursuing Wedding into Ohio County. He was joined in the pursuit by Hancock County Deputy Cody Axton and Hawesville Police Chief B.J. Burton, with Ohio County units meeting them outside Fordsville.
The pursuit continued through Fordsville and onto Kentucky 69 North toward the Dundee area, according to the Ohio County Sheriff's Office. Sgt. Jacob Phelps deployed spike strips on Kentucky 69 North. While attempting to avoid them, the truck hit a civilian vehicle occupied by one person and continued south.
Deputies caught up to the vehicle and attempted to box it in. The driver then rammed the rear of Phelps' Tahoe, swerved into oncoming traffic and hit Sheriff Adam Wright's cruiser head-on. The truck left the roadway and became stuck in a ditch, where deputies took Wedding into custody.
Despite the severity of the pursuit, no injuries were reported. Hancock County Deputy Aaron Emmick said the child, the woman, deputies, the sheriff and the civilian driver were all unharmed. Emmick responded to the scene and later transported the woman home.
The only damage reported was to vehicles, including Garst's cruiser, two Ohio County Sheriff's Office cruisers and the civilian vehicle.
Wedding was lodged in the Ohio County Detention Center on multiple charges, including second-offense driving under the influence with aggravating circumstances, first-degree fleeing or evading police, three counts of first-degree criminal mischief, and reckless driving. He also faces charges of first-degree wanton endangerment, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, and kidnapping of both a minor and an adult, according to the Ohio County Sheriff's Office.
Additional charges are expected in Hancock County. Axton is the investigating officer, and similar charges are anticipated stemming from the portion of the pursuit that occurred in Hancock County, according to Emmick.
