Two Held Following ISP Pursuit

November 3, 2017 at 9:15 p.m.

By Michael [email protected]

SOUTH BEND – Two Nappanee men ended up in jail Thursday  after a police chase.

Around 10  a.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Kyle Glaze attempted to stop a silver Buick LaCrosse for speeding eastbound on Ind. 2 near the U.S. 20/31 bypass.  

As Glaze got behind the Buick and activated emergency lights, the Buick swerved between two semis and got on the U.S. 20/31 bypass and headed southbound in a closed construction lane at speeds over 100 mph, according to a press release from the ISP.

After the Buick exited at Mayflower Road, Glaze terminated the pursuit due to the reckless nature of the chase. A short time later, an officer with the St. Joseph County Police Department found the Buick wrecked on Mayflower Road near the South Bend International Airport. Glaze used his K9 partner, Nala, and began a track to try to locate the occupants of the car.

The track led them through a local hotel and ultimately to the South Bend International Airport.  Both men were detained and taken into custody as they were attempting to get into a cab.  

As the investigation continued it was found that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Nappanee.  The driver was identified as Tyler Vatter,  21,  Nappanee. A passenger in the car was identified as Matthew Powell, 28, Nappanee.

Vatter was arrested and preliminarily charged with theft, leaving the scene of a  property damage crash, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.

Powell was arrested and preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement.

Vatter and Powell were transported to the St. Joseph County Jail. ISP were assisted by the St. Joseph County Police Department, St. Joseph County Airport Authority Police and the Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department.

SOUTH BEND – Two Nappanee men ended up in jail Thursday  after a police chase.

Around 10  a.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Kyle Glaze attempted to stop a silver Buick LaCrosse for speeding eastbound on Ind. 2 near the U.S. 20/31 bypass.  

As Glaze got behind the Buick and activated emergency lights, the Buick swerved between two semis and got on the U.S. 20/31 bypass and headed southbound in a closed construction lane at speeds over 100 mph, according to a press release from the ISP.

After the Buick exited at Mayflower Road, Glaze terminated the pursuit due to the reckless nature of the chase. A short time later, an officer with the St. Joseph County Police Department found the Buick wrecked on Mayflower Road near the South Bend International Airport. Glaze used his K9 partner, Nala, and began a track to try to locate the occupants of the car.

The track led them through a local hotel and ultimately to the South Bend International Airport.  Both men were detained and taken into custody as they were attempting to get into a cab.  

As the investigation continued it was found that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Nappanee.  The driver was identified as Tyler Vatter,  21,  Nappanee. A passenger in the car was identified as Matthew Powell, 28, Nappanee.

Vatter was arrested and preliminarily charged with theft, leaving the scene of a  property damage crash, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.

Powell was arrested and preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement.

Vatter and Powell were transported to the St. Joseph County Jail. ISP were assisted by the St. Joseph County Police Department, St. Joseph County Airport Authority Police and the Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department.
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