Daven Gasaway

WARSAW — A Warsaw man accused of chasing down two men and trying to run one of them over with his truck was sentenced Thursday, Jan. 25, in Kosciusko Superior I Court.

Daven Paul Gasaway, 20, 5774 North 2nd St., Warsaw, was sentenced on charges of criminal recklessness, a level 6 felony, and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a class A misdemeanor.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Sept. 5, 2016, the Kosciusko County Dispatch received two calls in regards to Gasaway chasing two men. One of the callers advised that Gasaway had run over a victim with his car and the victim was on his way to Kosciusko County Hospital. An officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department responded to KCH to speak with those involved. The person who drove the victim to the hospital advised that Gasaway was her ex-boyfriend and had accused her of stealing his motorcycle. Gasaway then began following the female and struck her vehicle window with a baseball bat.

The female then drove to her mother’s house. The two men referred to in the dispatch calls were at the residence and Gasaway began chasing them. According to the men, Gasaway attempted to hit their vehicle during the chase, causing them to drive into a cornfield.

The men ended up in a church parking lot and Gasaway continued to follow them. Gasaway was driving a red truck and swinging a baseball bat outside of his vehicle’s window. Gasaway then began driving around the men’s vehicle in circles, getting closer and closer to their vehicle.

According to the affidavit, one of the men exited the vehicle in an attempt to stop Gasaway. At that time,, Gasaway struck the victim with his truck, causing the man to fall to the ground. Gasaway continued to run over the victim as he laid on the ground. At this time, the female arrived on the scene and transported the victim to KCH.

The victim had several abrasions to his left leg, inner calf and knee. He also severe abrasions on his right left from the hip to the knee, approximately five to six inches wide and an abrasion on his right foot. The victim’s mother spoke at today’s sentencing. She addressed Gasaway directly, stating, in part, “It’s only by a miracle that this isn’t a murder sentencing. I hope for you that you will address your anger issues. I hope you take this as an opportunity to progress with your life.”

For the count II, criminal recklessness charge, a level 6 felony, Judge David Cates sentenced Gasaway to two years in the custody of the Kosciusko County sheriff. Regarding the count IV, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident charge, a class A misdemeanor, Cates sentenced Gasaway to one year in the custody of the Kosciusko County sheriff. Cates ordered the sentences to be served concurrently. One year of the sentence was suspended and will be served on probation, subject to the standard rules of probation. Gasaway was ordered to receive an anger management assessment at the Otis R. Bowen Center and to follow all recommendations of that assessment.

“You absolutely need to address your anger issues,” said Cates.

Cates stated he had no objection to the executed portion of the sentence being served in Community Corrections, provided Gasaway is accepted into that program.