CLARK COUNTY, IN : Charlestown police officer killed in car crash during pursuit on Thursday, 13th December 2018

Scores of residents lined Charlestown's Market Street Thursday afternoon to honor Charlestown Police Sgt. Benton Bertram, as the long procession of police cars brought their brother home.

“He was somebody that other officers looked up to and he's very well respected,” Charlestown Police Chief Keith McDonald said. “And we're going to honor him the best way we can.”

Bertram, 33, a nine-year veteran of the department, was killed in the line of duty late Wednesday night when his police cruiser struck a tree during a high-speed chase through Scott County. The pursuit began in Clark County and ended in Scott County around 10:20 p.m. near the intersection of Ind. 3 and Ind. 56 east of Scottsburg.

The suspect Bertram was pursuing, Benjamin Eads, 35, was arrested and booked into Scott County jail on a preliminary charge of a level 2 felony for resisting law enforcement causing death. In Clark County, he is preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement, level 6 felony and auto theft, level 6 felony.

During the day, Charlestown was gripped with the first hours of trying to understand what had happened to a man who had dedicated his life to serving his community, and why his life and service were cut so short.

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