A 21-year-old Bloomington man was arrested in rural Greene County Monday after the vehicle pursuit beginning in Bloomington, according to Bloomington Police Dept. Capt. Ryan Pedigo.
The pursuit began after a woman reported seeing her stolen red 2008 Chevy Cobalt in the parking lot of Big Lots in the 3600 block of W. Third Street around 4:42 p.m. Monday. The woman contacted the Bloomington Police Department upon seeing her car.
The Bloomington Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle in the parking lot, but the driver of the vehicle fled southbound on Liberty Drive at a high rate of speed. A deputy from the Monroe County Sheriff’s office put stop sticks at Liberty Drive and Ind. 45, but the driver drove into the yard of a bank and back onto the road to avoid the tire deflation devices. The chase then continued westbound on Ind. 45 with deputies from the MCSO in pursuit.
The vehicle was eventually stopped in rural Greene County, and the driver was taken into custody. Along the way, according to scanner traffic, the driver tossed a gun from the car onto the lawn of a residence, but the weapon was recovered.
The driver, who had stolen the keys to the car from the victim’s apartment, was charged with vehicle theft, a level 6 felony, and theft, class A misdemeanor. According to the BPD the MCSO also handled more charges against the suspect, but the MCSO would need to release the info on those charges to the media.
Editor’s note: The Bloomingtonian reached out to the MCSO’s public information officer but had not received a response by Tuesday evening. Charges won’t be available to the media on a probable cause affidavit for at least three days per Monroe County prosecutor policy and then the pc has to be requested. This story may be updated if more information becomes available.
