Kosciusko County officers arrested two Lake County men after a foot pursuit early Saturday morning.
Xavier Smith, 22, Merrillville, and Jonathan Terrel Willis, 23, Gary, were arrested on drug charges and resisting/fleeing law enforcement.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Castillo was on normal patrol Saturday morning and observed a vehicle driving without its headlights on in the area of U.S. 30 and Parker Street. Deputy Castillo caught up with the vehicle near the intersection of U.S. 30 and Old Road 30 and initiated a traffic stop near the Marathon gas station.
After slowing, the suspects’ vehicle suddenly accelerated and fled on Commerce Drive into the parking lot at Aldi’s where the driver and passenger exited and fled on foot.
State, county and local officers arrived and began to search the area with two canine units. They located the driver, Smith, who was taken into custody near a neighboring mobile home park.
Officers and canine units tracking the second suspect located Willis hiding under a cardboard box behind Big R. Officers also located approximately .28 grams of marijuana, measuring scales and baggies inside the suspects’ vehicle as it was being impounded.
Smith was preliminarily charged with felony possession and dealing marijuana, fleeing law enforcement and driving while suspended. Smith was also found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest through Lake County on the charge of receiving stolen property.
Willis was preliminarily charged with felony possession of marijuana, dealing marijuana, and fleeing law enforcement. Both Smith and Willis are being held on $2000 bonds in the Kosciusko County Jail.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Warsaw Police Department, Winona Lake Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
