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Last updated on Friday, March 13, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - An Indianapolis state trooper recovered a pickup truck that had been stolen from Bloomington after a pursuit early Thursday morning.
The trooper noticed the truck parked behind Emerson Commons on South Emerson Avenue and three men standing outside of the truck.
Police say someone had spray painted the doors and tailgate.
When the men saw the trooper they got into the truck and drove off. The trooper followed the truck onto Emerson Avenue north to I-465 westbound, where the truck exceeded the posted speed limit.
The trooper then attempted to stop the vehicle which exited onto Ind. 37 south.
The driver refused to stop and increased the speed to more than 95 miles per hour. The pursuit continued into Johnson County, turning west onto Smith Valley Road.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Department and other troopers responded to the area to assist.
The pursuit approached a dead end on Smith Valley where the driver drove through a fence at the dead end. The pursuit continued onto Irvington Materials property which consisted of dirt/mud roads.
The first trooper in the pursuit was not able to continue due to muddy conditions and temporarily lost sight of the truck.
Responding officers began setting up a perimeter in the area.
Unknown to officers at the time, approximately 150 yards in front of where the Trooper stopped the truck became stuck and the suspects fled on foot.
Johnson County deputy Chris Madison and his K9 partner Nitro were able to track the suspects. After an extensive 45 minute track two of the men were located and they surrendered to police without incident.
Police determined the driver 48-year-old Michael Prewitt of Spencer was wanted on a warrant out of Owen County and the truck had been stolen from a Bloomington business.
Spencer was arrested on felony charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting law enforcement and on the Owen County warrant and was cited for driving while his driver's license was suspended and multiple other traffic violations.
His passenger, 32-year-old Christopher Callas of Freedom is facing a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement.
The third suspect got away, but deputies started checking local businesses and employees were given a description of the man. An employee at BP Gas Station at Ind. 37 and State Road 144, saw the man after he came into the station and called police.
Police arrested 43-year-old Joshua Clark of Poland on a charge of resisting law enforcement.
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