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A Warsaw teen faces multiple charges after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase from Warsaw through Oswego.
Ptl. Scott Whitaker of the Warsaw Police Department attempted to stop a car driven by Gerald Mitchell Tucker, 16, of 4330 Old Ind. 15N #214, Warsaw, because Tucker was not wearing his seat belt, which is required by Indiana law.
Whitaker initially attempted to stop Tucker's car on South Buffalo Street, where the officer pulled behind the car and turned on his flashing red and blue lights. Tucker reportedly then disregarded the stop sign at Fort Wayne Street and accelerated away from Whitaker at a high rate of speed. A pursuit ensued, with Tucker traveling an estimated 60 mph on Canal Street before heading onto Detroit Street, where speeds reached in excess of 90 mph and Tucker reportedly had a near-miss with another vehicle.
Officers from several departments attempted to intercept the pursuit, which continued on Ind. 15 to Levi Lee Road, Old Ind. 15N and Armstrong Road, where Tucker reportedly made "an out of control wide right turn."
Whitaker noted in his report that Tucker drove in the middle of Armstrong Road and in the opposite lane of travel during much of that portion of the chase. The pursuit ended near Sullivan Road, where North Webster Deputy Marshal Candy Smythe placed stop sticks in the roadway. Stop sticks puncture vehicle tires and are designed for use by police. All four tires of Tucker's car went flat and he took the vehicle off the road before fleeing on foot. Two Warsaw Police Department cars also sustained tire damage.
After a short foot pursuit, Tucker was taken into custody. Police said that when Tucker was apprehended, he had a plastic bag containing marijuana in his pants pocket.
Three passengers in Tucker's car told police they tried to get him to stop, but he refused, the report said. No charges were filed against the passengers.
Tucker is preliminarily charged with fleeing law enforcement, criminal recklessness with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving having never had a license, possession of marijuana and 11 various traffic violations.
