Leasburg Man Leads Deputy On Vehicle And Foot Pursuit

On Tuesday, January 28, around 8:20 p.m., a Franklin County Deputy arrived on Apache Way in the Lake Arrowhead Development of Robertsville after Franklin County 911 Dispatchers were alerted to the attempted burning of a camper trailer and the presence of a white Chevrolet Tahoe possibly connected to prior trailer thefts.

During surveillance while waiting for backup, the deputy saw the Tahoe leaving the lot. The suspect drove near enough for the deputy to recognize the driver and the vehicle as having suspected involvement in prior trailer thefts. After attempting to initiate a traffic stop, the Tahoe sped away to Finney Place Rd., where the driver leapt out of the moving vehicle to flee on foot. The deputy was able to catch and arrest Ronald Wertenberger, 35, Leasburg.

Wertenberger was arrested on failure to appear warrants through Franklin County for Felony Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and traffic offenses. Additional drug paraphernalia and “a white crystalline substance” were allegedly found at the scene Wertenberger fled from, and additional warrants have been applied for Felony Stealing, Resisting Arrest and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His cash bond was set at $100,000.