Henderson man who led a York County officer on a high-speed chase on October 1, appeared in York County Court last week.
By Melanie Wilkinson at justmelaniew.com
YORK – Gino Main, 31, of Henderson, has been charged with five crimes associated with flight to avoid arrest, drug possession, and driving under the influence.
He appeared in York County District Court before Judge James Stecker this week.
Main has been charged with operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony; possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony; willful reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor; driving under the influence, a Class W misdemeanor; and refusal to submit to a test, a Class W misdemeanor.
This week, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and a jury trial was set for late February 2024.
A sergeant with the York County Sheriff’s Department was on regular patrol in the middle of the night on Interstate 80 when he saw a vehicle come to a stop at the stop sign at the Mile Marker 348 westbound off-ramp where the driver activated different turn signals several times before turning south on Road H, according to court documents.
The affidavit filed with the court says the driver, who was later identified as Main, then “rapidly increased in speed and continued at a high rate of speed on Road H.” The deputy followed.
Eventually, the vehicle turned east on Road 4 and then turned around and started to head west, the sergeant’s affidavit says. The deputy lost sight of the vehicle for a short time before finding it heading north on Gilbert Avenue, approaching Road 3 in Lushton. The vehicle then went west on Road 3, and the driver “began to drive at a high rate of speed,” with a reading of 71 mph.
A traffic stop was attempted, with Main pulling over briefly, but “then took off at a high rate of speed.” A pursuit began until they reached the city limits of Henderson. On the way there, the sergeant’s affidavit alleges Main was driving in excess of 110 mph.
In Henderson, while on Front Street, it is alleged Main drove in excess of 80 mph, at times in the wrong lanes, and it was noted this is a business district where the speed limit is 25 mph.
The vehicle went through the Henderson Health Care parking lot and then west on Walnut Street until it hit Road 7, entering Hamilton County until turning north on Road W. The deputy said Main was driving in excess of 70 mph in this area.
Eventually, Main got back to the interstate and headed east. But while driving on Road W, a Hamilton County deputy was able to successfully deploy a tire deflation device. Speeds on Road 1 were in excess of 90 mph.
Eventually, on Interstate 80, it is alleged his speeds varied between 60 and 90 mph on the shoulder. Main then exited the interstate at Road B.
On Road B, it is alleged he drove on the shoulder multiple times, in the wrong lanes, and he ran a steady red traffic signal in a construction zone before coming to a stop on Road B near Road 12.
Both Main, the driver, and his passenger, Chelsea Beck, were taken into custody.
It is alleged he appeared to be impaired “consistent with drug use,” according to court documents.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies allege they found a backpack in the rear passenger seat, in which there was a digital scale with methamphetamine residue.
The deputies also allege Main said, “he got scared and just did 13 years in prison.”
The affidavit says he did not participate in an evaluation at the jail to determine if he was under the influence of drugs.
His criminal history is that he was released on June 8 after 13 years in prison for three separate convictions of flight to avoid arrest, with the first and second being in Douglas County and the third in Sarpy County. He was also convicted of theft by receiving stolen property, leaving the scene of an injury accident, possession of a controlled substance, and theft. He also has entries on his criminal history for failure to appear or comply with a citation and being a fugitive from justice.
