Three people have been arrested, and multiple guns have been recovered in connection with an ongoing investigation focused on reducing gun violence and drug activity in our city.

Officers with the South Bend Police Department’s Strategic Focus Unit recently received information about a crime that occurred outside our city and on Tuesday, October 3, conducted a case follow-up due to information that the suspects were in South Bend.

As a result, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop at Lincoln Way West and Cushing Street, ultimately leading to a pursuit.

The pursuit ended near Bendix Drive and Sugar Maple Lane. Two individuals, 23-year-old Dennis Lane and 20-year-old Hannah Blacklidge, were detained. A small child was also located inside the vehicle.

As part of the ongoing investigation, officers executed several follow-ups and search warrants, including at a home and vehicle in the 3500 block of W. Dunham Street. As a result of those follow-ups, officers recovered three firearms, one of which was reported stolen out of Lake County. Officers also recovered drug evidence.

Ultimately, three people were arrested: Lane, Blacklidge and 28-year-old Alaynja Pepper, who was detained as a result of the search warrant on Dunham Street.

Lane was arrested on several preliminary charges, including Resisting Law Enforcement, Neglect of a Dependent, Criminal Confinement, Theft and Criminal Recklessness. Blacklidge was arrested on the preliminary charges of Theft and Assisting a Criminal.

Pepper was arrested on several preliminary charges, including Assisting a Criminal and Possession of Stolen Property.

All three were transported to the St. Joseph County Jail, where they await formal charging decisions from the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.