INDIANAPOLIS – The driver of a fleeing vehicle is arrested for several preliminary charges stemming from his refusal to stop for police who were attempted to make a traffic stop for traffic violations.
At about 9:00 p.m. an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department police officer observed a vehicle in the area of Prospect and Harlan streets fail to stop at a stop sign. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The officer initially obtained some identification documentation from the driver. Because the driver lacked a valid Indiana driver’s license, the officer asked the driver to step out of the vehicle. The driver, with the driver’s side door open, suddenly sped off nearly striking the officer. The officer gave chase after the fleeing vehicle, and, per IMPD policy, soon after an IMPD supervisor began monitoring the pursuit. It was determined to minimize the risk to officers, the community and fleeing occupants a Precision Immobilization Technique, commonly referred to as PIT would be utilized. That maneuver was, unfortunately, unsuccessful in terminating the pursuit. After losing two of the fleeing vehicle’s tires and hitting a curb and momentarily flipping to its side, the vehicle eventually landed back upright and came to stop in the 700 S blk. of South Sherman Ave. The driver of the vehicle then fled on foot but was quickly apprehend by pursuing officers. Inside the vehicle officers discovered two small children and female passenger that were not injured. The children were transported by EMS personnel to Riley Hospital for children as a precautionary measure only. It was discovered that the suspect’s vehicle had struck two police cars that sustained minor damage during the pursuit. It is believed the suspect’s actions were intentional in his hitting those police cars.
The suspect driver is identified as 37-year-old Travis Powell of Indianapolis. The suspect faces preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle White Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Operating Having Never Received a License, and Resist Fleeing. The suspect driver told officers he believed he had a warrant and didn’t want to go back to jail as the reason for his refusal to stop. The suspect was transported to Arrestee Processing Center for processing. At present no booking photo is available. No officers and no civilians sustained any significant injury as a result of this incident. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will review this case for a charging decision.
Per IMPD policy, this pursuit will be subject to internal review to ensure compliance with IMPD policies governing pursuits. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department would like to remind drivers that when you see emergency lights flashing in your review mirror to yield to the right lane as quickly and safely as possible.
