Indiana

Two police chases in northern Indiana result in arrests

Two police chases Wednesday, March 25, in northern Indiana and southern Michigan resulted in arrests.

The first was around 6:20 p.m., near Ironwood and Edison in South Bend, according to 95.3 MNC’s reporting partners, The Elkhart Truth.

Police were called to the CVS Pharmacy there because of a possible fraud that was happening there, Division Chief Scott Ruszkowski with the South Bend Police Department told Michiana’s Morning News on Thursday morning.

About 15 cars from multiple police departments were included in the chase, Ruszkowski said, including Indiana State Police.

The pursuit ended 30 minutes later just west of LaPorte on the Indiana Toll Road. Two people were taken into custody.

At around 10 p.m. in LaPorte, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department deputies tried to stop a driver they suspected was intoxicated, according to a news release from the department. The driver sped north on S.R. 39, crashed through a cross arm at a Toll Road station and entered the Indiana Toll Road, according to the release.

Police chased the suspect, 47-year-old Leroy Michael Cortez, who was traveling west on the interstate at more than 100 mph in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to the news release. Police say the driver pulled a U-turn, got off the interstate then traveled north on S.R. 39, crossing the state line.

The chase ended just south of New Buffalo, Mich., when police used the PIT, or pursuit intervention technique, causing the Jeep rolled over twice then stopped, WNDU reports.

Cortez was not injured and was booked at the Berrien County Jail on a preliminary charge of driving while intoxicated, according to the news release. County police are also looking to file criminal charges against Cortez.

Related posts

Gov. Holcomb signs executive order to prepare for solar eclipse

95.3 MNC

Two accused in counterfeiting scheme

Network Indiana

Law enforcement officers work together to enforce distracted-driving laws

Alyssa Foster