WHITLEY CO. – On Monday at approximately 1:30 p.m., state troopers from the Fort Wayne Post and officers from several agencies from Huntington, Allen, and Whitley Counties became involved in a lengthy vehicle pursuit of a 1995 Toyota pickup truck. The incident began after a Huntington County Sheriff’s Department officer attempted to stop the truck for an alleged traffic violation on US 24 near Roanoke.
The driver, who eventually would be identified as Sheldon Straessle, 25, of Roanoke, allegedly refused to pull over and instead led officers into southwest Allen County via the areas of Homestead Road, Aboite Center Road, Illinois Road, and West County Line Road, before heading over into Whitley County along CR900S and north on State Road 9.
Officers initiated multiple StopStick deployments in Allen and Whitley Counties and successfully deflated all four truck tires, effectively slowing the speed of the pursuit. However, despite best efforts, the pickup truck continued driving north on SR9 towards Columbia City, albeit at slower speeds and on bare rims.
On State Road 9, just south of County Road 200 South, a state trooper initiated a Precision Immobilization Tactic (PIT) maneuver. This maneuver disabled the pickup truck in the west-side ditch, effectively ending the pursuit. Officers were then able to take Straessle into custody without further incident.
Straessle was transported for a medical clearance at Parkview Whitley Hospital and then to the Whitley County Jail on charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, both Level 6 felonies and reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor.
The charges listed are preliminary. The Whitley County Prosecutor will determine the final charges to be filed.
The Indiana State Police was the arresting agency. During this pursuit, they were assisted by the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Roanoke Town Marshal, Fort Wayne Police Department, Allen County Police Department, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia City Police Department, South Whitley Town Marshal, Parkview Whitley EMS, and Smith Brothers Towing.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
