Noble County Burglary Suspect Apprehended Near Lake Wawasee After Vehicle Pursuit

December 11, 2021 at 2:11 p.m.
Noble County Burglary Suspect Apprehended Near Lake Wawasee After Vehicle Pursuit
Noble County Burglary Suspect Apprehended Near Lake Wawasee After Vehicle Pursuit


CROMWELL – A Syracuse man was arrested and Indiana State Police are searching for a female suspect after a burglary near Cromwell Friday led to an extensive police pursuit.

At approximately 9 a.m. Friday, a 911 call came in to the Noble County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center advising of an active home burglary in the 1900 block of North CR 900W, southeast of Cromwell, according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. Two teenagers were home alone and reported to dispatch that their front door had just been kicked in and the suspects were still inside the home.

Responding Fort Wayne District troopers and Noble County Sheriff’s deputies were on scene in about 5 to 6 minutes, the release states, but the suspects had already fled the scene. Officers secured the home and ensured that the teenagers were safe. Home security camera footage captured a view of the two suspects, along with the suspect vehicle, which appeared to be a black early 2000s Chevrolet Suburban or Tahoe.

A photo of the suspect vehicle was relayed to all surrounding police agencies in an attempt to locate the suspect and vehicle, and within two hours a Ligonier Police Department officer reported having located the vehicle – a black 2001 GMC Yukon – at a residence on Robinhood Road near Lake Wawasee in Kosciusko County, the release states.

Before officers could make contact at the residence, a white male matching the burglary suspect’s description drove off from the home. When ISP troopers attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop, the suspect sped off, initiating what would be a half-hour-long vehicle pursuit around the northeast corner of Kosciusko County and western Noble County.

Officers from multiple agencies, including troopers from the Fort Wayne and Bremen Posts, Noble and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Offices, Ligonier and Syracuse Police Departments were involved in the pursuit. Together, they were able to coordinate and manage the overall pursuit tactics and safely bring the pursuit to an end on East Hatchery Road near Eagle Trail, at the southwest area of Lake Wawasee.

The suspect, identified as Brad Lee Niles Jr., 37, Syracuse, was taken into custody without further incident. He was alone in the vehicle during the pursuit, and was taken to the Noble County Jail where he was booked on several related criminal charges. He also was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant out of Elkhart County for theft-related charges.

According to the release, the charges against Niles include residential burglary, a felony; resisting law enforcement – vehicle fleeing, a felony; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a felony; criminal recklessness, a misdemeanor; and on a larceny/theft warrant, a felony.

Although an arrest was made in this burglary, the news release states that at the time of the release, a white adult female suspect involved in the burglary remains at large. Troopers are working to identify and locate her.



CROMWELL – A Syracuse man was arrested and Indiana State Police are searching for a female suspect after a burglary near Cromwell Friday led to an extensive police pursuit.

At approximately 9 a.m. Friday, a 911 call came in to the Noble County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center advising of an active home burglary in the 1900 block of North CR 900W, southeast of Cromwell, according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. Two teenagers were home alone and reported to dispatch that their front door had just been kicked in and the suspects were still inside the home.

Responding Fort Wayne District troopers and Noble County Sheriff’s deputies were on scene in about 5 to 6 minutes, the release states, but the suspects had already fled the scene. Officers secured the home and ensured that the teenagers were safe. Home security camera footage captured a view of the two suspects, along with the suspect vehicle, which appeared to be a black early 2000s Chevrolet Suburban or Tahoe.

A photo of the suspect vehicle was relayed to all surrounding police agencies in an attempt to locate the suspect and vehicle, and within two hours a Ligonier Police Department officer reported having located the vehicle – a black 2001 GMC Yukon – at a residence on Robinhood Road near Lake Wawasee in Kosciusko County, the release states.

Before officers could make contact at the residence, a white male matching the burglary suspect’s description drove off from the home. When ISP troopers attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop, the suspect sped off, initiating what would be a half-hour-long vehicle pursuit around the northeast corner of Kosciusko County and western Noble County.

Officers from multiple agencies, including troopers from the Fort Wayne and Bremen Posts, Noble and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Offices, Ligonier and Syracuse Police Departments were involved in the pursuit. Together, they were able to coordinate and manage the overall pursuit tactics and safely bring the pursuit to an end on East Hatchery Road near Eagle Trail, at the southwest area of Lake Wawasee.

The suspect, identified as Brad Lee Niles Jr., 37, Syracuse, was taken into custody without further incident. He was alone in the vehicle during the pursuit, and was taken to the Noble County Jail where he was booked on several related criminal charges. He also was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant out of Elkhart County for theft-related charges.

According to the release, the charges against Niles include residential burglary, a felony; resisting law enforcement – vehicle fleeing, a felony; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a felony; criminal recklessness, a misdemeanor; and on a larceny/theft warrant, a felony.

Although an arrest was made in this burglary, the news release states that at the time of the release, a white adult female suspect involved in the burglary remains at large. Troopers are working to identify and locate her.



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