Leesburg Man Charged with Stealing Gas, Fleeing Police
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kaitie Vanderpool-
According to Sgt. Chad Hill of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect, later identified as Brandon Stuart Alfano, 25, of 5111 E. Armstrong Road, Leesburg, pumped just over $40 in gas at Katie’s Kwik Mart in Leesburg and drove off without paying, heading eastbound into town.
Witnesses described the vehicle as a maroon van with no license plates.
Shortly after, a Winona Lake Police officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle on Armstrong Road in the area of CR 200E and attempted to make a traffic stop when Alfano proceeded to flee toward Oswego. The officer pursued the vehicle until Alfano turned the vehicle around in the area of CR 550N and Oswego Road and began driving toward the officer.
Hill said the officer ordered Alfano to stop at gunpoint when Alfano retrieved what appeared to be a black handgun from the console of his vehicle. Alfano later abandoned the weapon – which turned out to be a pellet gun – and the officer took him into custody.
Deputies from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department arrived and found Alfano was carrying what appeared to be methamphetamine on his person.
Alfano was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail and has been charged with theft, resisting and fleeing law enforcement in a motor vehicle and habitual traffic violation. Alfano will be detained on a prosecutorial hold.
Winona Lake Police Department and KCSD were assisted by the Indiana State Police.
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According to Sgt. Chad Hill of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect, later identified as Brandon Stuart Alfano, 25, of 5111 E. Armstrong Road, Leesburg, pumped just over $40 in gas at Katie’s Kwik Mart in Leesburg and drove off without paying, heading eastbound into town.
Witnesses described the vehicle as a maroon van with no license plates.
Shortly after, a Winona Lake Police officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle on Armstrong Road in the area of CR 200E and attempted to make a traffic stop when Alfano proceeded to flee toward Oswego. The officer pursued the vehicle until Alfano turned the vehicle around in the area of CR 550N and Oswego Road and began driving toward the officer.
Hill said the officer ordered Alfano to stop at gunpoint when Alfano retrieved what appeared to be a black handgun from the console of his vehicle. Alfano later abandoned the weapon – which turned out to be a pellet gun – and the officer took him into custody.
Deputies from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department arrived and found Alfano was carrying what appeared to be methamphetamine on his person.
Alfano was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail and has been charged with theft, resisting and fleeing law enforcement in a motor vehicle and habitual traffic violation. Alfano will be detained on a prosecutorial hold.
Winona Lake Police Department and KCSD were assisted by the Indiana State Police.
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