A suspect in various house burglaries in northeast Kosciusko County was arrested Feb. 5 after initially being charged with fleeing law enforcement. According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department press release, road division deputies were dispatched at approximately 4 a.m. Feb. 5 to the area of Genesee Lane for a report of a suspicious vehicle. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. The suspect eventually exited the vehicle, at which point a foot pursuit ensued. Syracuse officers and a Kosciusko K-9 unit chased the suspect through a housing addition, at which point he was taken into custody by officers without incident. The suspect, identified as Ethan David Jessie, 25, Syracuse, was arrested and preliminarily charged with fleeing law enforcement and driving while suspended. During the ensuing investigation, information was obtained implicating Jessie with several burglaries in the Lake Wawasee area. Road officers subsequently obtained and executed search warrants Sunday and Monday at locations on Seneca Lane and North Wawasee Circle, which uncovered numerous stolen items from burglaries that had occurred within the last month. Deputies were able to recover flat-screen TVs, chain saws, musical instruments, electronics and a firearm. Officers estimated that almost $5,000 worth of stolen items were found at the two locations. According to the release, officers are investigating the possible involvement of at least one other individual, along with other potential victims and burglaries that have not been identified at this time. Jessie is currently being held in the Kosciusko County Jail without bond associated with the additional charge of five counts of burglary, along with a probation violation. Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine stated in the release that three road officers had devoted numerous hours of their on- and off-duty time to complete the investigation.
