A high-speed chase involving a stolen van ended Saturday with the suspect tumbling 20 feet down an embankment before being tracked down by a police K-9 and arrested.

The incident began when St. Joseph County Police attempted to stop a stolen van near State Road 23 and Cleveland Road, but the driver refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit. Due to excessive speeds, officers terminated the chase near Ironwood Road, with the suspect last seen turning into the Martin’s Supermarket parking lot.

Additional officers from St. Joseph County and South Bend responded to the scene. An officer spotted the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Caleb Martin, running behind the supermarket before disappearing behind a wooden fence. Upon further investigation, police found the abandoned van nearby.

As officers closed in, Martin attempted to escape by jumping over the fence and down to the road below. However, he tripped on overgrowth, plummeting about 20 feet and hitting the ground hard. Despite the fall, he managed to get up and flee down Dunn Road.

Police K-9 “Bullet” and another officer tracked Martin to the 18000 block of Dunn, where he was found hiding under a tarp.

Martin was taken into custody and faces multiple preliminary charges, including felony resisting law enforcement, resisting law enforcement, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia. Authorities also confirmed Martin had active warrants in three counties: St. Joseph County for felony theft, Elkhart County for burglary and escape, and Cass County for felony theft.

He remains in custody as the investigation continues.