A 27-year-old Hutchinson area man bound over for trial Last Week by Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen was back in court Monday where he entered “not guilty” pleas to the charges against him.

Christopher Gregory is charged with four counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officers, felony flee and elude, and four counts of criminal damage to property, however the state amended one count of criminal damage to a misdemeanor. They also added another charge after it came out during the hearing that Gregory’s blood alcohol level was at .21. The legal limit in Kansas is .08.

The case itself started during the noon hour on June 22, when sheriff deputy Richard Jennings was dispatched to a home in the 7500 block of East 30th, on the report of a disturbance where he was breaking windows in a car. But, Gregory had left the area prior to the deputy arriving, however he was spotted on Willison Road near 43rd. Later, Gregory is alleged to have stopped his vehicle then backed into the deputies vehicle, disabling it. He later side swiped another sheriff vehicle and also damaged a Hutchinson Police Cruiser.

The chase lasting about 10-minutes ended when Gregory was traveling south on the old K-61 highway, which now runs out of pavement south of 43rd. He allegedly proceeded anyway, and went into a big dip, in what was at the time a construction area, just north of 30th & the new K-61. He then got stuck, and law enforcement had to struggle to get him into custody.

Although the plea was taken by Judge Tim Chambers Monday, any trial in the case will be in front of Judge Trish Rose.