Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
An early morning pursuit today involving Warsaw Police Department officers led to one police vehicle being rammed by the suspect and an officer firing his weapon.
The Indiana State Police has been requested to investigate the incident, according to a news release from the ISP.
Preliminary investigation by ISP detectives indicates at approximately 3:33 a.m. today, a WPD officer attempted to make a traffic stop on a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado that led officers on a short pursuit. The pursuit ended near the intersection of Ind. 13 and East CR 150 North when the fleeing driver rammed into a stationary WPD SUV, the release states. At the time of the collision, the officer was exiting his vehicle. The officer was later treated and released for an injury to his leg.
After this initial crash, the driver of the Chevrolet drove a short distance, then turned around and crashed into the same police vehicle again. During this sequence of events, the WPD officer from the struck police vehicle fired one shot from his department-issued handgun. Evidence indicates the shot hit the Chevrolet but did not strike the driver or his passenger.
After the second collision, the driver of the Chevrolet fled on foot into a nearby field but was taken into custody by a K9 officer with the WPD without force, according to the release.
The passenger in the Chevrolet complained of pain and was taken to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital where he was treated and released.
The driver of the Chevrolet, identified as Lance Walter, 37, Mansfield, Ohio, was taken to the Kosciusko County Jail for preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and attempted murder.
According to Walter’s booking information, his preliminary bond was set at $55,500.
Further information on the identity of the officer involved and the officer’s duty status was not available as of today.
This is an ongoing investigation with the ISP conducting interviews, reviewing in-car and body worn camera footage, and processing the scene, the release states.
At the conclusion of this investigation, all information will be turned over to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office for review. No other information has been released at this time.
