UPDATE FROM ELKHART POLICE: judicial officer set bail for a male subject arrested by Elkhart Police Department officers Monday, April 15, after the suspect fled from a traffic stop and barricaded himself in a van in the 600 block of W. Lusher Ave. Male subject, identified as Joshua Welch, 34 years old of Elkhart, was arrested and booked into the Elkhart County Jail on preliminary charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 Felony; Criminal Recklessness, a Level 5 Felony; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, a Level 5 Felony; and Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, a Level 6 Felony. He was also booked into the Jail on outstanding and unrelated warrants. An Elkhart County Magistrate found probable cause for the arrest and set bail at $750,000 (10% cash-no surety). This arrest has been forwarded to the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office for review of formal criminal charges.
ORIGINAL STORY: A man barricaded himself inside a stolen van after crashing into a pole during a short vehicle pursuit. It happened late Monday morning in the area of West Lusher Avenue and South 6th Street.
Elkhart County SWAT was called to the scene.
After about three hours, police fired a chemical irritant into the vehicle and the man came out. Investigators say a gun was fired inside the vehicle.
The man was taken to the hospital to get checked out before being booked into the Elkhart County Jail.
Streets were blocked on Lusher between 6th and 8th Streets during the incident.
The Elkhart Police Department issued the following information:
Earlier this afternoon, officers took a man into custody after he fled from a traffic stop and barricaded himself in a van for over three hours (occurring near the 600 block of W. Lusher Ave, Elkhart).
This morning an Elkhart Police Department officer saw a suspected stolen vehicle (a Mercury Sprinter van) while on patrol. The officer attempted a traffic stop on the van in the area of Benham Ave and W Hively Avenue. The van fled from the stop, and a brief vehicle pursuit ensued at about 9:44 a.m.
The pursuit lasted only a few minutes before the van struck a pole near the 600 block of W Lusher Ave (near W Lusher Ave and S 6th St). Upon approaching the vehicle, the male driver (suspect) told officers he was armed. Based on the suspect’s statements, and his refusal to exit the vehicle, Elkhart County SWAT was activated, per protocol, at about 10:14 a.m.
After multiple attempts at negotiation, SWAT team members deployed chemical irritants into the vehicle. The male suspect eventually exited the vehicle and surrendered without further incident. He was taken into custody at about 1:14 p.m. Officers took the suspect to the hospital for medical clearance, per protocol. No other injuries were reported during this incident.
Initial investigation indicates that a firearm had been fired inside the van, and a firearm was located inside that vehicle. Ballistic and other tests are still pending.
Suspect, who is in his 30’s, was transported to the Elkhart County Jail and will be booked on preliminary charges related to this incident as well as on outstanding and unrelated warrants. This case will be forwarded to the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office for review of formal criminal charges. We will release his name if and when a Elkhart County judicial officer finds probable cause for his arrest and sets a bail amount.
