Docs: Noblesville man leads law enforcement in chase, brandishes sword during arrest

BOONE COUNTY, Ind. — A Noblesville man has been charged after he reportedly led law enforcement in a chase on I-65 earlier this month and brandished a sword as police were attempting to arrest him.

According to court documents filed earlier this month in Boone County, 61-year-old Michael McGarvey has been charged with the following in relation to a police chase on Aug. 8:

• Two counts of intimidation, each a Level 5 felony
• Two counts of resisting law enforcement, each a Level 6 felony
• One misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person
• One misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated
• One misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement
• One misdemeanor count of criminal mischief
• One misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of an accident.

On Aug. 8, the Boone County Communications Center received multiple calls about a GMC Terrain leaving the scene of an accident after a reported hit-and-run vehicle collision near the 129 mile marker on I-65 northbound.

With a license plate number, and a description of the vehicle, law enforcement officials attempted to pull over the vehicle near the 140 mile marker of I-65 northbound. The documents said that as soon as the deputy’s emergency lights were activated, the driver of the Terrain, later identified as McGarvey, slammed on the brakes and “abruptly” turned to the median to pull over, “nearly crashing into the concrete median wall.”

Because of the Terrain abruptly stopping on the highway, the deputy was unable to stop safely and swerved to avoid a collision. Other law enforcement officials following behind the deputy stopped with the suspect vehicle. Officers said that McGarvey reportedly refused to roll down his window, put his vehicle in drive and continued to drive north on I-65.

Another chase between the Terrain and law enforcement then began. The documents said the Terrain varied in speeds from 80-100 mph and swerved between lanes. The vehicle once again stopped abruptly near the 150 mile marker on I-65 northbound. Officers then took around five minutes to ask McGarvey to roll his window down, turn the car off and exit the vehicle.

After this, McGarvey then left the scene, fleeing north on I-65. The documents said that at the 151.5 mile marker, the Terrain stopped abruptly and turned to the left, which caused him to collide with a law enforcement vehicle.

Law enforcement officers then exited their respective vehicles and began to approach the Terrain. The documents said that McGarvey first brandished a pocket knife, which caused officers to back away. McGarvey then exited the Terrain, brandishing a large sword.

Officers reportedly had McGarvey at gunpoint and gave him commands to drop the sword. The documents said that McGarvey began to walk toward the officers while raising his sword. Officers then deployed multiple Tasers on McGarvey, which brought him to the ground. As police were getting him into handcuffs, McGarvey reportedly continued to reach for the knife and the sword.

After McGarvey was in custody, officers said that he displayed “indicators of impairment consistent with alcohol and narcotic use.”

The documents said that McGarvey’s responses to questions from officers were “completely absurd and incoherent,” with him stating that his father was former President John F. Kennedy. Officers later said that McGarvey reportedly told officers he took Lithium medication as well as marijuana.

McGarvey was later linked to a hit-and-run crash on I-65 northbound in Marion County, as well as the Boone County hit-and run.

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