PURSUIT ENDS WHEN KSP TROOPER USES HIS CRUISER TO INTENTIONALLY RAM SUSPECT’S VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO OVERTURN ONTO ITS TOP; DRIVER FACES 19 CHARGES AND THREE BENCH WARRANTS
AUGUST 4, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
ONE IS REALLY CRIMINAL SUPER SCREWED ,WHILE THE OTHER GUY IS JUST REGULAR CRIMINALLY SCREWED: CHRISTOPHER JORDAN MOLLETTE (PHOTO TOP), 38, OF TOMAHAWK, KENTUCKY; AND WILLIAM JOE CANTRELL, 41, OF FLAT GAP. KENTUCKY, WHO ARRESTED ON LATE SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 2, AFTER FLEEING FROM STATE POLICE IN DANGEROUS POLICE CHASE.
Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 9 Pikeville troopers arrested a Martin County, KY. man and a Johnson County, KY. man on multiple charges following a vehicle pursuit on Sunday.
According to the arrest citation written by KSP Post 9 trooper Jonathan Rouse; on Sunday August 2, 2026, at approximately 10:49 A.M., KSP 9 Post sergeant Ryan Hamilton attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 1993 Chevrolet Silverado traveling on U.S, 23 in the Paintsville area community for displaying no visible registration plate and having excessive window tint, trooper Rouse wrote in the arrest citation, and that the occupants appeared to be unrestrained. A records check revealed that the vehicle’s registration had been canceled and that it was not insured, the citation said.
When sergeant Ryan Hamilton activated his emergency equipment, the driver failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued.
“When Sergeant Hamilton attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver immediately fled,” the citation said, adding that trooper Rouse and KSP Post 9 trooper Steve Hammond joined in the pursuit, which continued south on U.S. 23 and west onto KY. 825.
“During the pursuit, the driver disregarded stop signs and failed to use a turn signal when exiting the roadway,” the arrest citation said. “The pursuit ended near the Ky. 825/U.S. 460 junction after law enforcement performed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver, disabling the vehicle.”
The driver, identified as Christopher Jordan Mollette, 38, of Wildcat Branch, of Tomahawk, KY., was taken into custody, the arrest citation said, as was his passenger, William Joe Cantrell, 41, of Eudell Branch, of Flat Gap, KY.
“Following the pursuit, officers located approximately 60-65 feet of AT&T fiber-optic cable, worth more than $1,000, in the bed of the truck,” Trooper Hammond wrote in William Cantrell’s arrest citation. “Troopers also recovered burglary tools, including a pair of large cable cutters and a pole saw, which are believed to have been used to cut the fiber-optic cable.”
KSP trooper Hammond also wrote in his arrest citation that William Cantrell “admitted to throwing several items out of the vehicle’s passenger side window while the vehicle was fleeing from the initial traffic stop.”
KSP trooper Rouse wrote in his arrest citation that while speaking with Christopher Mollette, his eyes were glassy and “he displayed noticeable body swaying,” prompting the trooper to perform several tests on him.
“Based on (Christopher) Mollette’s reckless driving, physical indicators, and performance during the evaluations, I believed that he was impaired by drugs,” trooper Rouse wrote.
Trooper Rouse also wrote that trooper Hamilton’s assigned police cruiser sustained damage to the front passenger side during the PIT maneuver.
The Oil Springs Fire and Rescue responded to the crash scene on KY. 825, writing in a Facebook post that the pickup truck was resting on its top and that fuel and fluids were leaking from it.
“Measures were taken to control the fuel leak and to contain any fluids to the roadway surface,” the social media post said. “Route 825 remained closed for four hours, allowing KSP to follow protocol for reconstruction.”
Christopher Jordan Mollette was charged with a total of 19 charges from the chase, along with 3 outstanding contempt warrants; which were the following:
*NO REGISTRATION PLATES;
* IMPROPER DISPLAY OF REGISTRATION PLATES;
*EXCESSIVE WINDSHIELD/ WINDOW TINTING;
*FAILURE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS;
*FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 1ST DEGREE (MOTOR VEHICLE);
* RECKLESS DRIVING;
*FAILURE TO OR IMPROPER SIGNAL;
*DISREGARDING STOP SIGN;
*OPERATING ON SUSPENDED OR REVOKED OPERATORS LICENSE;
*RESISTING ARREST;
*OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER/INFLUENCE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (189A.010(1D) – 2ND OFFENSE (AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE);
*RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY $500 < $1,000;
*POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS;
*CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, 1ST DEGREE;
*FAILURE OF OWNER TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED INSURANCE/SECURITY, 1ST OFFENSE;
*FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD;
*IMPROPER EQUIPMENT;
*NO REGISTRATION RECEIPT;
*FAILURE TO APPEAR;
*CONTEMPT OF COURT LIBEL/SLANDER RESISTANCE TO ORDER (3 SEPARATE CHARGES COUNTS).
William Joe Cantrell was charged with:
*RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY $500 < $1,000;
*POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS;
*CRIMINAL LITTERING;
*FAILURE TO APPEAR.
Both men were transported to and were lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville, where Christopher Mollette still remains incarcerated as of Tuesday evening August 4; while William has since posted his bond, and has been released from the BSRDC jail.
