Jefferson Twp. Police Chase Ends In Crash, Arrest
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
An early-morning police chase ended when the suspect crashed the vehicle he was driving near Gravelton in Jefferson Township, just south of the Elkhart County line. The pickup involved was allegedly stolen from the Sellers Lake area.
The incident began about 3:47 a.m. today when a Warsaw police officer saw a pickup parked along U.S. 30 at CR 500W with no lights on. Ptl. Brian Hupp shined a light into the vehicle and saw there was someone inside, so he stopped to check on the driver.
Hupp had been looking for a semi tractor/trailer whose driver was to be notified to return to Fort Wayne. He was following a rig that matched the description when he was told to disregard that matter. He then encountered the pickup.
Hupp said he spoke with the driver, John Ray Greene, 38, of 5870 Woodland Lane, Warsaw, and believed him to be intoxicated because of the smell of his breath and the fact there was a beer can in the console of the vehicle. When asked for his driver's license, Greene told Hupp he didn't have any identification with him. Hupp said he told Greene to stay where he was and returned to his squad car to turn on his video camera and to get his notepad to write down Greene's personal information.
As Hupp got to his car, Greene reportedly sped away. Hupp began a pursuit of the vehicle northbound on CR 500W to CR 1350N, where Nappanee police were able to place Stop Sticks - a device that will puncture a vehicle's tires - in the road. Greene continued through a field for about 100 yards before crashing into a railroad embankment about 4:05 a.m., according to Hupp. Speeds during the chase were up to 90 mph.
Once in custody, Greene allegedly gave authorities someone else's name. Because of that, Greene was charged with making a false police report. He also was charged with auto theft because the pickup he was driving belongs to James Elder of Woodland Lane, Warsaw, who was not aware the vehicle was missing until police contacted him this morning.
Greene also was booked on charges of resisting or fleeing law enforcement, public intoxication, refusal to submit to chemical testing, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, conversion and attempted auto theft. He is being held on $7,000 bond.
Also assisting in the incident were officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and Wakarusa Police Department. [[In-content Ad]]
An early-morning police chase ended when the suspect crashed the vehicle he was driving near Gravelton in Jefferson Township, just south of the Elkhart County line. The pickup involved was allegedly stolen from the Sellers Lake area.
The incident began about 3:47 a.m. today when a Warsaw police officer saw a pickup parked along U.S. 30 at CR 500W with no lights on. Ptl. Brian Hupp shined a light into the vehicle and saw there was someone inside, so he stopped to check on the driver.
Hupp had been looking for a semi tractor/trailer whose driver was to be notified to return to Fort Wayne. He was following a rig that matched the description when he was told to disregard that matter. He then encountered the pickup.
Hupp said he spoke with the driver, John Ray Greene, 38, of 5870 Woodland Lane, Warsaw, and believed him to be intoxicated because of the smell of his breath and the fact there was a beer can in the console of the vehicle. When asked for his driver's license, Greene told Hupp he didn't have any identification with him. Hupp said he told Greene to stay where he was and returned to his squad car to turn on his video camera and to get his notepad to write down Greene's personal information.
As Hupp got to his car, Greene reportedly sped away. Hupp began a pursuit of the vehicle northbound on CR 500W to CR 1350N, where Nappanee police were able to place Stop Sticks - a device that will puncture a vehicle's tires - in the road. Greene continued through a field for about 100 yards before crashing into a railroad embankment about 4:05 a.m., according to Hupp. Speeds during the chase were up to 90 mph.
Once in custody, Greene allegedly gave authorities someone else's name. Because of that, Greene was charged with making a false police report. He also was charged with auto theft because the pickup he was driving belongs to James Elder of Woodland Lane, Warsaw, who was not aware the vehicle was missing until police contacted him this morning.
Greene also was booked on charges of resisting or fleeing law enforcement, public intoxication, refusal to submit to chemical testing, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, conversion and attempted auto theft. He is being held on $7,000 bond.
Also assisting in the incident were officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and Wakarusa Police Department. [[In-content Ad]]