PORTER CO.- On Saturday, September 7, at approximately 1:15 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Payonk was patrolling U.S. 20 near the area of State Road 49 when he located a white 2022 Dodge Ram pickup truck that had been reported stolen.
Troopers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle near State Road 149 in Burns Harbor, but the driver refused to stop, and a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued east on U.S. 20 when the vehicle turned onto County Road 1400 North. The truck suddenly stopped, and the driver exited the vehicle and ran into a wooded area.
Trooper Payonk and Trooper Jones were able to chase the suspect into the woods, where he was taken into custody. The driver was identified as 41-year-old Benjamin K. Vanvynckt from South Bend. He was incarcerated at the Porter County Jail and preliminarily charged with:
- Resisting law enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 6 felony
- Habitual traffic violator- Level 6 felony
- Unauthorized control of a motor vehicle- Level 6 felony
- Reckless driving- Class C misdemeanor
