PINEVILLE — A Bell County man recently received a 10-year prison sentence in Harlan Circuit Court for his actions during a high-speed police chase that occurred in February.

On Thursday, Feb. 19, Harlan County Sheriff Marvin Lipfird attempted to make a traffic stop on a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier that nearly struck him on U.S. Hwy. 421 in Harlan. 27-year-old Dusty Ellison — the driver of the vehicle — drove off from Sheriff Lipfird and that’s when the high-speed chase began.

Ellison traveled through Harlan on U.S. Hwy. 421 and then turned South onto U.S. Hwy. 119 where Kentucky State Police Trooper Walt Szczepan joined in the pursuit, assisting Sheriff Lipfird. The pursuit then entered Bell County in the community of Calvin. Awaiting Ellison near the Calvin Post Office, was another officer, TFC Curtis Pingleton.

Trooper Pingleton deployed a tire deflation device which disabled Ellison's vehicle. Ellison then exited his vehicle and was chased on foot where he was later caught in a wooded area.

During the foot pursuit, Trooper Szczepan sustained a leg injury. He was treated and released at Harlan ARH. TFC Pingleton also sustained an injury to his hand and was treated and released from Pineville Community Hospital.

An innocent driver, Brittany Smith, was also affected by Ellison's chase.

The tire deployment device used to detain Ellison caused two flat tires on Smith's Chevrolet Tahoe, which was traveling North on U.S. Hwy. 119. Smith, who was 33 weeks pregnant at the time of the accident, was transported by ambulance to Middlesboro Appalachian Regional Hospital for chest pains, but was later released.

At the time, law enforcement alleged that Ellison had shoplifted at a Peebles Department Store in Harlan County just prior to the pursuit. He was reportedly running from the store when he entered the roadway and nearly struck Sheriff Lipfird’s vehicle. Ellison was also wanted in Knox County for a similar incident that occurred on Jan. 28 in Corbin, Ky. During the Corbin incident, Ellison allegedly fled from the Corbin Police and struck a vehicle, injuring the occupants of that vehicle but was able to escape capture. Furthermore, Ellison was wanted in Bell County for failure to appear in court.

During court proceedings, Ellison pleaded guilty to charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, five counts of first degree wanton endangerment, first degree fleeing or evading police, an amended charge of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, under $300 and being a persistent felony offender. He will receive credit for 111 days of time served in jail while he awaited trial.

Sarah Miracle is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. She may be contacted via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.