Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - An escapee from Kosciusko County Work Release is being sought in connection with an early morning burglary in North Manchester Wednesday.
Police are searching for Eric Ray Smallwood, 20, originally of Ligonier, after he allegedly helped steal a TV and then avoid police.
Smallwood was reported missing from the work release program after he failed to appear at his job the morning of May 26.
He allegedly called his employer and said the sheriff's department would not let him out of jail after he was already released from custody. Smallwood did not return to the jail that evening.
North Manchester Police reported they received a 911 call at 5 a.m. Wednesday that a burglary was taking place at a home on Second Street.
The caller said two people loaded a big screen TV into the back of a pickup and left the scene.
Officer Dave Young reported he spotted the truck and attempted to stop it. He managed to get the license number and pickup description during the chase.
The pickup turned south onto CR 300E and stopped. As Young got out of his patrol car, the pickup sped away. Young reported the chase reached speeds of more than 95 miles per hour.
Young said the pickup drove through a farm field at the intersection of Ind. 9 and CR 1100S, and he was not able to follow.
He and officers from the Wabash County Sheriff's Department were unable to relocate the pickup.
Smallwood was allegedly the passenger in the pickup during the crime and chase. He is described as a white male, 6 feet tall, 155 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of a sun on his lower left arm and several other tattoos. Police report he is known to fight with police and should be considered dangerous.
Anyone with information about Smallwood should call the Wabash County Crime Stoppers at 800-237-7867 or North Manchester Police at 982-8555.
