NORTH VERNON — North Vernon police arrested a Scipio man after he was accused of riding a dirt bike at a high rate of speed up and down Harms Street.

Police arrested Brett E. Matern, 31, at 4:28 p.m. Monday after Sgt. Andrew Richmond and officer Shane Trepanier tried to stop Matern, who fled. Police said the pursuit lasted about a half mile, reaching speeds up to 60 mph in a residential neighborhood.

Matern then abandoned the dirt bike in the backyard of an apartment in the 200 block of Harms Street and ran into the apartment, police said. Richmond and Trepanier secured the scene and were able to direct Matern out of hiding, police said. Matern resisted when the officers were handcuffing him and had to be subdued, police said.

When fighting with the officers, Matern made several threats of physical violence against the police, officers said. Matern was arrested on felony charges of resisting law enforcement by fleeing in a vehicle and intimidation of a police officer. He was also arrested on misdemeanor charges of resisting law enforcement by fleeing or fighting and disorderly conduct, police said. Matern also was arrested on warrants for risk of flight on a charge of intimidation, failure to appear on an original charge of possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia and a warrant for intimidation, police said.

Matern was being held without bond at the Jennings County Jail, police said.