A pursuit initiated by a Winona Lake police officer Thursday night ended half an hour later, with city, state and county officers aiding in the apprehension.

Steven Michael Moran, 39, of 111 Boydston St., Warsaw, is charged with refusing to submit to chemical testing, resisting/fleeing law enforcement and criminal mischief.

The chase began shortly before 10 p.m. when Chad Stevens of the WLPD attempted to stop Moran in the area behind the Dairy Queen for driving without his headlights on. This action drew suspicion from the officer, according to WLPD Detective Mike Albert, because of recent burglaries in town.

Moran reportedly stopped but then fled as Stevens approached his car. He then allegedly refused to stop and took officers from several agencies on a pursuit through Warsaw, into the county and back toward Winona Lake before being apprehended on the same dead-end street behind the Winona Avenue Dairy Queen where the incident began.

Police said Moran's ex-wife lives in the apartments there and he has allegedly made threats against her. No bond was set on Moran last night because he refused to tell anyone where the couple's children, whom he had in his custody Thursday, were. Police later located the children at a Pierceton residence, and bond has since been set at $50,000.

Prior to Moran being taken into custody, he struck three parked cars in the apartment complex parking lot with his vehicle, and a Warsaw Police Department squad car sustained damage during an attempt to stop Moran from continuing to flee.

At one point, Moran - who officials said was suicidal - approached one of the officers and yelled, "Shoot me, shoot me."

While his attention was diverted with that officer, another officer pepper sprayed Moran and he was taken to the ground, where he was handcuffed and placed in leg irons for transportation to the Kosciusko County Jail. [[In-content Ad]]