Dateline: February 25, 2010

Wellington man tried to run from law again

The Wellington man who led lawmen on a high speed chase into Clarendon last summer has gotten into trouble with the law again.

Carl Franklin Bedwell was arrested for evading arrest in a motor vehicle in Collingsworth County on January 22, 2010. Due to the fact that Bedwell was on deferred adjudication for another state jail felony of evading out of Donley County, the State filed a motion to adjudicate against Bedwell when the district court met in Childress last Tuesday.

Bedwell pled guilty and was convicted of two felonies. He was sentenced to two years in the State Jail Division of the Department of Criminal Justice. However, the sentences were probated for a period of five years to run concurrently.

The defendant originally pled guilty to an evading arrest out of Donley County. Bedwell was convicted of both evading arrest charges that were pending in the 100th Judicial District.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Bedwell is required to pay a fine and court costs and successfully complete the SAFPF program. 

“SAFPF is a program designed to provide long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation to Defendants in a prison environment,” said Inman. “This program can be very good for individuals with drug problems. However, if not successful at the program, the defendant is facing the full 24-month sentence and it’s a difficult program to complete.” 

Bedwell was arrested July 18 after Donley County dispatchers received multiple calls of someone driving erratically eastbound on US 287 west of Clarendon at speeds in excess of 100 mph.

A state trooper stopped Bedwell west of town, but he fled the scene despite warnings and three gunshots fired by a local deputy. Bedwell then crossed the west city limits at approximately 85 mph, and the trooper and two deputies boxed in his vehicle as he neared the intersection of Allen Street and US 287.