VIGO CO. – The Bloomington man accused of running over two men with a stolen truck is facing two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of auto theft, battery with a weapon, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, and resisting arrest by fleeing in a vehicle.
Dustin Roecker’s trial date is set for October 15, 2024, in Vigo Superior Court 6. A Pretrial Conference is scheduled for August 12 at 1:30 p.m. His bond is set at $100,000 with no ten percent allowed. He was appointed a public defender and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Judge Michael Lewis ordered two no-contact orders for the victims
The first incident happened at Culer’s on Terre Haute’s east side on Saturday, April 20, at 9:45 p.m.
First responders arrived to find an injured man in the parking lot. The victim said the truck driver was naked and drove around the parking lot with his bare leg sticking out of the driver’s side window.
The driver, Roecker, 35, then revved the truck and hit the victim, throwing him into the air.
Terre Haute Police Department officer followed the victim to the hospital. That’s when they learned about the incident involving a second man being hit.
A man and his girlfriend were returning home from a night at the casino at about 11 p.m. when he noticed an unknown pickup truck following them into the driveway.
The man told police he didn’t know the man in the pickup and told his girlfriend to stay in their car until he determined what the man wanted. The male victim grabbed his handgun and exited his vehicle.
The male victim heard what he described as a “battle cry” from the driver, Roecker, before he accelerated. The victim jumped on top of his vehicle to avoid being struck and then fired ten shots at the approaching truck.
The naked driver, Roecker, climbed out of the driver-side door and ran away.
The female who was in the car when it was rammed sustained minor injuries. The incident was captured on the victim’s security camera.
The male victim suffered a broken leg, lacerations, and other minor injuries. The victim’s son called 911.
When Sheriff deputies arrived, they found the male victim in a bedroom. Both the male and female victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
While Vigo County Sheriff’s deputies were searching for the suspect, Roecker, they received a call from Indiana State Police that troopers were involved in a chase with a blue Kia.
Roecker had stolen a second vehicle from a nearby house.
Police found Roecker inside the stolen Kia. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was flown by medical helicopter to an Indianapolis hospital.
Police say Roecker was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
