BLOOMINGTON – A Wednesday afternoon traffic stop led to a foot pursuit and arrest of an Indianapolis man.
Trooper Jeremy Cox was at the intersection of 17th Street and North Crescent Road when he saw a blue 2003 Chevrolet Colorado traveling westbound on 17th Street and the male driving was not wearing his seatbelt.
The blue 2003 Chevrolet turned southbound onto Crescent Road in front of Trooper Cox’s patrol vehicle. Trooper Cox pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Crescent Road and Fountain Drive. During the traffic stop, Trooper Cox determined the male driver had no information about the vehicle and no personal identification.
The driver provided a false name to Trooper Cox, and when he returned to his patrol vehicle to conduct driver’s license and vehicle registration inquiries, the male subject exited the driver’s side door window and ran northbound toward a wooded area.
Trooper Cox initiated a foot pursuit and contacted the Bloomington Post requesting assistance. Troopers in the area and officers from the Bloomington Police Department responded and immediately initiated a search for the man.
The male later identified as Matthew Johnson, 33, of Indianapolis, was located in an apartment building on North Crescent Road. Bloomington Police Department officers took Johnson into custody and Trooper Chance Humphrey transported him to Trooper Cox’s location for identification.
During the investigation, Cox determined Johnson was wanted on a warrant in Lawrence County for contempt of court. Johnson was arrested for resisting law enforcement, a Class A Misdemeanor, and transported to the Monroe County Jail where his custody was transferred.
