Court documents filed Wednesday reveal more information about the police chase that took place in Syracuse early Friday.
Michael David Mench, 36, of 406 Turkey Creek Drive, Syracuse, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 4:39 a.m. Friday for operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, a level 5 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, a level 6 felony; and possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor.
According to the court filing, on Friday Syracuse Police Department officer Gary Clark saw a red Dodge passenger vehicle – later driven by Mench – with a broken taillight while driving on Huntington Street in Syracuse.
Clark attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Mench accelerated. Clark then chased the vehicle to Pittsburgh Street and several other streets, ending up on Bowser Road.
On Bowser, the Dodge reached speeds in excess of 90 mph. The Dodge then continued to Syracuse-Webster Road back into Syracuse, going through alleys while disregarding stop signs and traffic lights. The vehicle drove through yards and a six-foot tall privacy fence and chain-link fence near Greenhouse Apartments.
Mench then turned onto Main Street and drove down the sidewalk, stopping in front of 201 N. Main St. He exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers chased Mench on foot and arrested him.
In searching Mench, officers found a plastic bag containing two small blue pills identified as alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Officers also found a plastic bag containing methamphetamine.
During the pursuit, SPD officer Michael Bumbaugh’s vehicle received damage estimated at $5,500.
Mench is a habitual traffic violator and can’t legally drive.
Mench has an initial hearing set for 8:15 a.m. May 24 in Kosciusko County Superior Court I.
