Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A three-county high-speed chase early this morning ended when the suspect crashed his car near Silver Lake.
A Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department squad car also was damaged in the incident. No injuries were reported.
Ridley Lee Brown, 19, of 124 S. Sherman St., Warsaw, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 4:23 a.m. today on charges of resisting or fleeing law enforcement, refusal to submit to chemical testing, public intoxication, possession of marijuana, reckless driving and illegal possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor. He also is charged with probation violation. He is being held without bond.
According to the KCSD, the pursuit began about 2:52 a.m. when Deputy Chris McKeand went to investigate an alarm at Sands Mini Mart and Brown pulled out of the parking lot. McKeand attempted to stop Brown's car, but Brown reportedly left the business southbound on Washington Street and traveled through the streets of Mentone until he reached Ind. 25 and headed eastbound at a high rate of speed.
By the time Brown headed southbound on CR 1000W, speeds began to rise, McKeand said, with travel in excess of 110 mph by the time the vehicles reached Ind. 14. After continuing the chase through Akron in Fulton County, also at high speed, McKeand pursued Brown eastbound on Ind. 114. At that time his red and blue lights were still operating but his siren stopped and wouldn't reactivate.
The pursuit continued in excess of 100 mph to Ind. 15, where Brown headed north. At CR 900S, McKeand was unable to make the westbound turn that Brown did. A Wabash County Sheriff's Department deputy continued the chase. McKeand turned around and caught up with the chase.
Brown crashed his car at the intersection of CRs 500W and 900S and the Wabash County deputy was stopped in the roadway. McKeand swerved to avoid a collision with the Wabash deputy's car and drove into a wooded area, damaging his squad car.
When McKeand returned to the roadway, Brown was in custody. An inventory of Brown's car reportedly turned up opened and unopened bottles of beer and a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. He refusal to take a Breathalyzer or to cooperate with police.
Damage to Brown's car is estimated at $1,000 to $2,500. He went into a ditch and struck a utility pole, ending the chase at 3:10 a.m. The KCSD investigated that accident.
North Manchester Police Department completed the 3:11 a.m. accident report involving McKeand's squad car. Damage is estimated at $750 to $1,000.
