Brian Boyce
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
A West Terre Haute man remained in jail Saturday night after a car chase involving gun play ended in the emergency room of Regional Hospital of Terre Haute.
Rocky J. Hamburg, 23, West Terre Haute, was being led out of the hospital’s emergency department in handcuffs, escorted by two Indiana State Police troopers as well as Terre Haute City Police about 6:13 p.m. Saturday.
Shouting to media at the scene as he was being placed into a squad car, Hamburg said, “I miss my mom! They’ve denied me my rights!”
When asked why he allegedly pulled a gun on a Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy earlier that evening, Hamburg proclaimed his innocence, exclaiming, “No, sir. I’ll take a lie detector. I’ll take a lie detector.”
According to Sheriff Jon Marvel, Hamburg’s blood alcohol content tested .16 at the time of his arrest.
Marvel said a deputy clocked Hamburg’s vehicle travelling 73 miles per hour on South Third Street near The Apple House about 5 p.m. A chase ensued with the deputy and Hamburg winding up on Harding Road where Hamburg reportedly crashed his vehicle into a warehouse there.
Marvel said Hamburg jumped out of the car and produced a gun, threatening to shoot the deputy. When the deputy assumed “an offensive stance,” Hamburg put the gun to his own head and threatened suicide, he said.
The deputy backed up to ease the situation, at which point Hamburg ran to a nearby gas station where a relative was working, and that relative then drove him to the hospital. Law enforcement from multiple agencies attended the hospital scene and placed Hamburg under arrest.
Hamburg was arrested on allegations of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class-D felony due to it being a second offense; criminal recklessness, a class-D felony; leaving the scene of a property accident; and two counts of resisting law enforcement.
Marvel said Hamburg will appear in court Monday. He was being held without bail Saturday evening.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
