A Vicksburg man and a Wyoming man have been released afterleading law enforcement officers on a high speed chase Saturdaythrough three counties.

The driver, Bobby W. McCool, 39, of Vicksburg has been chargedwith driving under the influence (third offense, felony), fleeinglaw enforcement, resisting arrest, speeding (104 mph in a 70 mphzone), reckless driving, no insurance, possession of liquor in adry county, seat belt violation, and public profanity in connectionwith the chase.

A passenger in the 1990 four-door Buick LeSabre driven byMcCool, Kevin E. Kifer, 38, of Casper, Wyo., was charged withpublic intoxication.

Both men were released on bond Sunday.

The two men were arrested after leading law enforcement officersin a pursuit that began in Lincoln County, went through PikeCounty, and ended in Amite County.

“The original violations began in Lincoln County so theyreturned them here,” said Staff Sgt. Rod Crawford, MississippiHighway Safety Patrol Troop M public affairs officer.

The chase began after 5 p.m. when a motorist traveling south onI-55 called the MHP and reported the driver of a 1990 Buick LeSabrewas possibly under the influence and also reported witnessing thedriver drinking an alcoholic beverage.

MHP Trooper Cpl. Bryan Phillips located the vehicle on I-55south of Bogue Chitto and when he attempted to pull it over, McCoolallegedly tried to flee.

“It began in Lincoln County with speeds greater than 100 mph,”Crawford said.

As the pursuit continued, Phillips was assisted by other MHPtroopers as well as officers with the Pike and Amite CountySheriff’s Departments and the McComb Police Department.

Officers with the McComb Police Department set up “stop sticks”on the interstate at the South McComb exit, Crawford said, andafter the vehicle ran over the sticks it took the South Magnoliaexit. Stop sticks are spiked strips used to puncture the tires ofpursued vehicles.

The pursuit continued down Highway 568, Crawford said, but itturned into a slow speed pursuit because the LeSabre had four flattires.

When McCool came across a roadblock established by the MHP andAmite County Sheriff’s Department, he used a gravel driveway toturn around, striking an MHP car and a McComb Police Departmentcar.

“Damage was done to one state trooper car and one McComb policecar,” Crawford said. “I don’t know the extent of the damage. Ihaven’t spoken with the supervisor or either of the troopersinvolved.”

McCool was stopped shortly afterward in Amite County near theTickfaw River and placed under arrest after a brief struggle.

“There obviously was some type of confrontation with the driverbeing charged with resisting arrest on top of fleeing lawenforcement, but I’m not aware of what occurred,” Crawfordsaid.

The public affairs officer did say, however, that there was noreason to believe a weapon was involved.