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Last updated on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
(SEYMOUR) - An Indianapolis man and an Indiana State Police trooper exchanged gunfire Monday after a traffic stop off U.S. 50 in Seymour.
The man, identified as 35-year-old John Michael Fish fled on foot. He remains at large.
The incident happened just after 7:30 p.m. at the busy intersection of U.S.50 and Interstate 65, about 60 miles south of Indianapolis.
The trooper had pulled over a Chevrolet pickup driven by Fish, for a traffic violation, and was approaching the truck when Fish opened fire, according to ISP Stg. Noel Houze. The trooper returned fire.
The incident happened within a matter of second and the trooper was not injured and as far as police know neither was Fish, according to Houze.
Fish then ran north from the scene into a wooded area behind the Circle K at the corner of U.S. 50 or Tipton Road and North Sandy Creek Drive.
Houze says homes and businesses around the area were locked down.
Police from several agencies then conducted a ground and air search looking for Fish.
Fish is 5-foot-10 and weighs 156 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes, and he was wearing dark-colored clothing at the time, Houze said. His hair is short-cropped, and he has gauged ears. That means larger and larger earrings are placed in the ear lobes to stretch them out. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.
According to the Indiana Department of Correction offender website, Fish has a number of previous criminal convictions out of Marion, Hancock and Jackson counties, including charges of criminal confinement and armed robbery.
Officials from the Indiana State Police and its Emergency Response Team, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Department and Jackson County Emergency Medical Services all arrived at the scene. The state police also had its helicopter going over the area.
Anyone who sees Fish should call local police immediately or the ISP Versailles District is (800) 566-6704, or dial 911.
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