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Suspect charged after colliding with South Bend Police Officer’s vehicle, trying to flee

(Photo supplied/South Bend Police Department)

A suspect is facing several charges after a crash involving a South Bend Police Officer.

On Saturday, Jan. 20, around 3:15 a.m., the officer was on-duty, traveling north on Portage Avenue, when the driver of a Chevrolet Malibu disregarded the stop sign at Leland Avenue, causing a collision with the officer’s patrol vehicle.

No serious injuries were reported, but the crash caused the Malibu to become lodged in a snowbank. The driver then appeared to try to drive off from the scene multiple times.

The officer ordered the driver several times to shut off the vehicle, but the driver continued his attempts to leave and failed to obey any commands.

Once other units arrived on-scene and were able to remove the driver from the vehicle. Officers noted that it appeared the driver was impaired. As officers were taking the driver into custody, they observed a handgun on the floorboard between the driver’s feet.

Through further follow-up and investigation, it was learned the handgun was reported as stolen out of a nearby county.

The driver, Wilson Makori, Jr., 38, was arrested and ultimately transported to the St. Joseph County Jail.

Makori is charged with Operating a Vehicle as a Habitual Traffic Violator, two counts of Resisting Law Enforcement, Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun with a Prior Felony Conviction and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Endangering a Person.

 

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