WHITLEY/ALLEN CO.— An Illinois man faces criminal charges in Whitley County after leading officers from multiple agencies on a high-speed vehicle pursuit Sunday.
The pursuit ran from rural Columbia City to downtown Fort Wayne and ended with the Fort Wayne Police Department’s successful apprehension of the driver.
The pursuit began at approximately 8:45 a.m. after an Indiana State Trooper attempted to stop a black Nissan Rogue passenger for an alleged speeding violation (77/60) on US 30 near County Road 400 West, Whitley County.
When the trooper attempted to initiate the traffic stop, the driver sped off at high speed. The Nissan sped eastbound on US30 through Columbia City at over 95mph and disregarded red light signals at multiple intersections.
Columbia City police officers initially attempted to de-escalate the pursuit by deploying StopSticks at the intersections of State Road 9 and State Road 205. Both attempts were unsuccessful.
The pursuit continued east on US 30 through Whitley County and into Allen County at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Allen County Sheriff’s officers would attempt StopSticks in the area of West County Line Road, again missing the mark. As the pursuit neared Fort Wayne city limits around 9:00 a.m., State Police ordered all involved troopers to terminate their pursuit.
As Troopers terminated their involvement, the Nissan continued eastbound on Goshen Road at a dangerously high rate of speed. Fort Wayne police officers were standing by and picked up the pursuit.
After a lengthy vehicle pursuit through the west-central and downtown streets of Fort Wayne, the vehicle was successfully stopped after several StopStick deployments by FWPD. The driver attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by FWPD officers at approximately 9:15 a.m.
The driver was identified as Jeffrey L. Prince, 44, of Chicago, IL. Price would be checked at the scene by paramedics before being transported to an area hospital for another medical clearance. Once cleared for incarceration, FWPD turned Price over to the custody of the state trooper originating the pursuit.
ISP transported Price back to Whitley County, where he was then booked into custody at the Whitley County jail on charges of resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, driving while his driver’s license was suspended, and multiple traffic-related infractions.
This pursuit involved the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Police, Columbia City Police, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and Parker’s Wrecker Service.
