High-Speed, Multi-County Pursuit Leads To Arrest Of Two

January 13, 2021 at 2:24 a.m.
High-Speed, Multi-County Pursuit Leads To Arrest Of Two
High-Speed, Multi-County Pursuit Leads To Arrest Of Two

By Amanda Bridgman-

Two people were arrested, including a Warsaw man, after police were led on an hour-long, multi-county pursuit that started in Syracuse.

According to Indiana State Police Fort Wayne District Public Information Officer Sgt. Brian Walker, at around 3 p.m. Tuesday state police became involved in a pursuit after officers tried to stop a black Toyota Camry. The vehicle was occupied by a fugitive wanted out of Fulton County. Another occupant was reported to be a serious violent felon in possession of a handgun and assault rifle.

The vehicle first fled from troopers in the area of Ind. 13 near Syracuse, initially heading north toward Elkhart County, but then traversing several county roads back down to the Lake Wawasee area before crossing into Noble County. Once in Noble County, Walker said the suspects led police down U.S. 33 toward Churubusco at speeds up to 100 mph, throwing bags of items out the windows along the way and also tossing out a handgun that was later recovered by troopers.

The vehicle then turned east onto Ind. 205, taking the pursuit into DeKalb County toward Auburn. A deputy with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department was able to successfully deploy stop sticks on Ind. 205 at CR 60, deflating at least one tire. That damage would eventually end the chase, Walker said.

While in Auburn, the vehicle ran off the road, through a fence behind the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum property then came back on the road headed sound on Tonkel Road into Allen County. On Tonkel Road, just south of Hollopeter Road, the suspect lost control of the vehicle and overturned on its side.

Officers then took Ricky Johnson, 40, of Warsaw, into custody, where he was transported back to the Kosciusko County Jail to face charges for resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; possession of a syringe, a Level 6 felony; possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony; and reckless driving, a misdemeanor charge.

Police also arrested the passenger of the vehicle, Angela Rogers, 37, of Rochester, who was booked in KCJ to face charges for possession of a syringe and a felony warrant out of Fulton County for assault.

After the vehicle crashed, police learned there was a third occupant in the vehicle trapped inside. Police gathered together and were able to flip the vehicle and get the passenger out. All three were taken by ambulance after the crash to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne for medical evaluation, according to Walker.

After further investigation, the third passenger that was trapped in the vehicle was released without charges, and both Johnson and Rogers after being medically cleared were taken to jail.

Walker noted no one else was injured during this pursuit.

Assisting agencies include troopers from the Indiana State Police Bremen and Fort Wayne posts, along with law enforcement agencies in Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb and Allen counties, the Fort Wayne Fire Department, Three Rivers Ambulance Authority and the Avilla Motor Works tow service.

Two people were arrested, including a Warsaw man, after police were led on an hour-long, multi-county pursuit that started in Syracuse.

According to Indiana State Police Fort Wayne District Public Information Officer Sgt. Brian Walker, at around 3 p.m. Tuesday state police became involved in a pursuit after officers tried to stop a black Toyota Camry. The vehicle was occupied by a fugitive wanted out of Fulton County. Another occupant was reported to be a serious violent felon in possession of a handgun and assault rifle.

The vehicle first fled from troopers in the area of Ind. 13 near Syracuse, initially heading north toward Elkhart County, but then traversing several county roads back down to the Lake Wawasee area before crossing into Noble County. Once in Noble County, Walker said the suspects led police down U.S. 33 toward Churubusco at speeds up to 100 mph, throwing bags of items out the windows along the way and also tossing out a handgun that was later recovered by troopers.

The vehicle then turned east onto Ind. 205, taking the pursuit into DeKalb County toward Auburn. A deputy with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department was able to successfully deploy stop sticks on Ind. 205 at CR 60, deflating at least one tire. That damage would eventually end the chase, Walker said.

While in Auburn, the vehicle ran off the road, through a fence behind the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum property then came back on the road headed sound on Tonkel Road into Allen County. On Tonkel Road, just south of Hollopeter Road, the suspect lost control of the vehicle and overturned on its side.

Officers then took Ricky Johnson, 40, of Warsaw, into custody, where he was transported back to the Kosciusko County Jail to face charges for resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; possession of a syringe, a Level 6 felony; possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony; and reckless driving, a misdemeanor charge.

Police also arrested the passenger of the vehicle, Angela Rogers, 37, of Rochester, who was booked in KCJ to face charges for possession of a syringe and a felony warrant out of Fulton County for assault.

After the vehicle crashed, police learned there was a third occupant in the vehicle trapped inside. Police gathered together and were able to flip the vehicle and get the passenger out. All three were taken by ambulance after the crash to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne for medical evaluation, according to Walker.

After further investigation, the third passenger that was trapped in the vehicle was released without charges, and both Johnson and Rogers after being medically cleared were taken to jail.

Walker noted no one else was injured during this pursuit.

Assisting agencies include troopers from the Indiana State Police Bremen and Fort Wayne posts, along with law enforcement agencies in Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb and Allen counties, the Fort Wayne Fire Department, Three Rivers Ambulance Authority and the Avilla Motor Works tow service.

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