Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union

Cpl. Steve Rockey suffered multiple injuries when he allegedly was run over by a car driven by Krystal Lanae Milburn, 15, of 403-1/2 S. Union St., Warsaw.

Milburn then reportedly fled from the area and crashed her car, injuring herself and a juvenile passenger. She faces multiple charges in connection with the incidents.

According to Warsaw Police Department reports, the matter began about 8:11 p.m. Saturday when a resident of the 600 block of Ellsworth Street, Warsaw, called to report a suspicious vehicle in the area and that a man was reportedly pushed from the car.

While investigating that call, Ptl. Brandon Zartman, who was driving the squad car with Rockey in the passenger seat as Zartman's field training officer, saw the suspect vehicle attempting to make a U-turn on Arthur Street. Zartman was westbound on Arthur Street when the car Milburn was driving reportedly struck the squad car, with the passenger side front of the police car and the driver's side front of Milburn's car colliding.

Rockey got out of the squad car, opened the driver's door of Milburn's car and was attempting to shut off the car's ignition when Milburn allegedly began to back up at a high rate of speed. Ptl. Scott Whitaker wrote in his report that he saw the vehicle moving backward and that Rockey was being dragged by the car. The driver's door was still open and Rockey reportedly was holding on between the door and the interior of the car.

Whitaker noted Rockey was dragged until being thrown from the door due to the vehicle stopping quickly. Rockey struck the north curb on Arthur Street, just a few feet from Ellsworth Street. Whitaker, who was about 10 feet from the still-open driver's door, said he could see a female driver and a male passenger inside the car.

"The female driver never looked back as she threw the vehicle into drive and drove forward," Whitaker wrote. He also noted that, while taking off eastbound, Milburn's vehicle made a movement as if it ran over something. Whitaker then noticed that Rockey hadn't gotten up from the pavement and appeared to suffering severe pain.

After summoning an ambulance, Zartman was left with Rockey while Whitaker joined a pursuit of the suspect's car begun by Sgt. Doug Brumfield Sr.

Milburn's car reportedly traveled at speeds of 50 to 55 mph along Cook Street prior to crashing into a tree at the intersection with Sheridan Street. When police approached the car, Milburn was reportedly lying across the passenger's lap and moaning. She suffered unspecified injuries and was later airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, where she was listed in serious condition this morning.

The passenger in the car, Brian P. Shepherd, 14, of South Columbia Street, Warsaw, suffered a cut to his head and was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital and released. He was preliminarily charged with illegal consumption of alcohol and public intoxication.

Rockey's injuries included swelling to his left ankle, abrasions to the upper left of his chest, back pain from the lower lumbar up to the shoulders, a bruised left knee, bruises under both arms and bruises and abrasions on both shins. Police are not sure whether Rockey was run over once or twice. His legs were apparently under the vehicle when Milburn went backward and forward but, because he was in so much pain, Rockey was unable to tell fellow officers how many times he was run over. Rockey was admitted to KCH for observation Saturday night and he was later released.

Police also located the man reportedly pushed from the car. James Franklin Osborn, 48, of Goshen, was reportedly intoxicated and was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a charge of public intoxication.

The car Milburn was driving sustained severe front-end damage in the collision. Police were not sure this morning who the registered owner of the vehicle is. The accident is being investigated by Indiana State Police.

Charges pending against Milburn include felony battery of a law enforcement officer, fleeing law enforcement, criminal recklessness with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, illegal consumption and possession of alcohol by a minor and public intoxication. A charge of driving while intoxicated may be filed, pending the results of blood and urine tests. Milburn also was issued several traffic citations, including driving having never had a license. [[In-content Ad]]